restrain

verb

re·​strain ri-ˈstrān 

restrained; restraining; restrains

transitive verb

1

a

: to prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something

restrained the child from jumping

b

: to limit, restrict, or keep under control

try to restrain your anger

2

: to moderate or limit the force, effect, development, or full exercise of

restrain trade

3

: to deprive of liberty

especially : to place under arrest or restraint

restrainable

ri-ˈstrā-nə-bəl 

adjective

restrainer noun

Synonyms

• regulate
• control
• contain
• curb
• keep
• stifle
• suppress

Choose the Right Synonym for restrain

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something.

restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Examples of restrain in a Sentence

He could not restrain the dog from attacking.

He could restrain himself no longer.

Hospital orderlies needed to restrain the patient.

He was restrained and placed in a holding cell.

He could barely restrain his anger.

The manufacturer took measures to restrain costs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Police said officers fired bean bag rounds to restrain Headrick. —Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Emerson was restrained by flight attendants and moved to the back of the plane, preventing any further attempts to sabotage the aircraft, per authorities. —Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

In 1990, for example, two robbers dressed as Boston police officers talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, restrained the guards and made off with 13 pieces of artwork 81 minutes later. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025

At the start of September, after his party lost a local election in Buenos Aires province, traders dumped the peso, which the government had pegged to the dollar to restrain inflation. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English restraynen, from Anglo-French restreindre, from Latin restringere to restrain, restrict, from re- + stringere to bind tight — more at strain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for restrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

restrain

verb

re·​strain ri-ˈstrān 

1

a

: to prevent from doing something

b

: to keep back : curb

restrain one's anger

c

: to limit or keep under control

restrain trade

2

: to take away liberty

especially : to place under arrest or restraint

restrainable

-ˈstrā-nə-bəl 

adjective

restrainer noun

Legal Definition

restrain

transitive verb

re·​strain ri-ˈstrān 

1

a

: to prevent from doing something see also restraining order at order sense 3b

b

: to limit, restrict, or keep under control

2

: to moderate or limit the force, effect, development, or full exercise of

3

: to deprive of liberty and especially of physical movement