restrain

verb

re·​strain ri-ˈstrān How to pronounce restrain (audio)
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 adjective
restrainer noun
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 When Iran first staged a missile attack in April, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Israel was restrained, striking only an Iranian air defense installation in response. Mick Krever, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024 People could be seen running onstage to restrain Farrell, and the concert promptly ended. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024 Twice in the same week in May 2023, Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies restrained and put 10-year-old Caleb Killingsworth in the back of a patrol car. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024 After the two were separated, the video shows Urías taking a swing with his left hand as he is restrained and, after a few seconds, led away by security outside the stadium, where LAFC had played a soccer match that night. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for restrain 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'restrain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of restrain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near restrain

Cite this Entry

“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrain. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

restrain

verb
re·​strain ri-ˈstrān How to pronounce restrain (audio)
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 adjective
restrainer noun

Legal Definition

restrain

transitive verb
re·​strain ri-ˈstrān How to pronounce restrain (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on restrain

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