detain Meaning & Definition
What Does Detain Mean?
As a verb, detain means To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay. It can also mean To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
Detain in Brief
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //dɪˈteɪn// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | stay, confine and hold up |
| Antonyms | free, rush and release |
| Verb forms | detains, detaining, detained |
Detain Definition (Verb)
- To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
- To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
- To keep back or from; to withhold.
- To put someone under custody.
- To seize goods for official purposes.
Synonyms of Detain
Detain synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Detain
Detain in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
detain (third-person singular simple present detains, present participle detaining, simple past and past participle detained)
Words That Rhyme With Detain
Origin of Detain
From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.
Pronouncing Detain
The standard pronunciation of detain is //dɪˈteɪn//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Detain: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is detain?
Detain is a verb.
What is another word for detain?
Words with a similar meaning to detain include stay, confine and hold up. See the full list of detain synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of detain?
The opposite of detain can be expressed with words like free, rush, release and loose.
What is the past tense of detain?
The past tense of detain is detained. The present participle is detaining.