Skip to main content

detainto keep someone from leaving or to delay someone

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to keep someone from leaving or to delay someone

Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈteɪn/

Korean meaning: 구금하다, 억류하다, 지연시키다

Korean pronunciation: 디**테**인

Example Sentences

  • Sorry I'm late, my mom detained me with a 30-minute lecture about cleaning my room.
  • The customs officer detained the passenger who had 20 bottles of hot sauce in his luggage.
  • Security detained the man who tried to bring a watermelon through the metal detector.

detain

VERB

//dɪˈteɪn//

to keep someone from leaving or to delay someone

detain concept
💡 Concept

Airport security detains a traveler for additional screening procedures

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free
detain rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Detain the person, retain what they contain!

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/dɪˈteɪn/
🇬🇧 UK/dɪˈteɪn/

🌳Etymology

Prefixde--
Roottain

Origin

From Old French 'detenir', derived from Latin 'detinere', composed of the prefix 'de-' (away, from) and 'tenere' (to hold, keep).

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎵Rhyme

retainmaintainobtaincontain
retain
maintain
obtain
contain

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

Sorry I'm late, my mom detained me with a 30-minute lecture about cleaning my room.

😄 Fun example

The customs officer detained the passenger who had 20 bottles of hot sauce in his luggage.

😄 Fun example

Security detained the man who tried to bring a watermelon through the metal detector.

The authorities may detain travelers who cannot provide proper documentation.

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📚Related Words

Synonyms

arrestholdconfinerestraincustody

Antonyms

releasefreeliberate

Related

detentionprisonercustodyinterrogatesuspect