detain

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈteɪn/ UK /dɪˈteɪn/ See IPA manual

verb Freq #14611

Meanings

1

verb
To officially hold someone and prevent them from leaving, especially by the police.

The police detained him for questioning.
2

verb
To delay someone or keep them from leaving.

I won't detain you any longer; thank you for your time.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to officially hold someone... intern

2 verb · to delay someone or keep... delayhold back

Word family

Forms detaineddetainingdetains

Derived forms detainabledetaineedetainerdetaininglydetainment detentionredetain

Etymology

From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.

*ten- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

# detain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** dɪˈteɪn
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈteɪn
**Frequency rank:** 14611

## Meanings
1. To officially hold someone and prevent them from leaving, especially by the police.
2. To delay someone or keep them from leaving.

## Examples
- The police detained him for questioning.
- I won't detain you any longer; thank you for your time.

## Derived Forms
- detainable
- detainee
- detainer
- detainingly
- detainment
- detention
- redetain

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-

## Etymology
From Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.

## AI Etymology
Detain comes from Old French detenir. Doublet of détente. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener. The historical chain includes *ten- (Proto-Indo-European). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as detainable, detainee, detainer, and detainingly. In present use it covers to officially hold someone and prevent them from leaving, especially by the police and to delay someone or keep them from leaving.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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detain

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