restrain

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /rɪˈstreɪn/ UK /rɪˈstreɪn/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to hold back or keep under control

She could barely restrain her laughter during the speech.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to hold back or keep under... curb check control contain suppress subdue constrain

Opposites

release free liberate incite provoke

Word family

Derived forms restrainablerestrainerrestraint

Related forms restraint strain constrain restrict

Etymology

From Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere ('to bind back, hold back'), from re- ('back') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind').

restringere Latin stringere Latin *streig- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

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Actions & Processes

# restrain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** rɪˈstreɪn
**IPA (UK):** rɪˈstreɪn

## Meanings
1. to hold back or keep under control

## Examples
- She could barely restrain her laughter during the speech.

## Synonyms
- curb
- check
- control
- contain
- suppress
- subdue
- constrain

## Antonyms
- release
- free
- liberate
- incite
- provoke

## Derived Forms
- restrainable
- restrainer
- restraint

## Related Forms
- restraint
- strain
- constrain
- restrict

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: restringere
- Root: stringere
- Root: *streig-

## Etymology
From Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere ('to bind back, hold back'), from re- ('back') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind').

## AI Etymology
Restrain is from Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere ('to bind back, hold back'), from re- ('back') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind'). In present-day use, it means to hold back or keep under control. Derived formations include restrainable, restrainer, and restraint. Related vocabulary includes restraint, strain, constrain, and restrict.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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restrain

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