English dictionary



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English verb: detain

1. detain (social) deprive of freedom; take into confinement


ExamplesThey want to detain the prisoners


Synonymsconfine


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Narrower (hyponym)bind over, cage, cage in, gaol, immure, imprison, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, keep, keep in, lag, pin down, put away, put behind bars, remand, straiten, trap


Antonymsfree, loose, unloose, unloosen, liberate, release

2. detain (change) stop or halt


SamplesPlease stay the bloodshed!.


Synonymsdelay, stay


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)check, delay, retard

3. detain (change) cause to be slowed down or delayed


SamplesTraffic was delayed by the bad weather.
She delayed the work that she didn't want to perform.


Synonymsdelay, hold up


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)decelerate, retard, slow, slow down, slow up


Narrower (hyponym)buy time, catch, stall, stonewall


Antonymshurry, rush









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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