restrained; restraining; restrains
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
restrainer
noun
Synonyms
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
From United’s perspective, the January plan was to lose players deemed at odds with the culture, add a left wing-back, and stay financially restrained ahead of the summer, when a long-term centre-forward can be recruited.
—
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
He was dehydrated and exhausted when he was fished out of the ocean after landing, having spent several hours restrained in his couch.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
Officers Jacob Phipps and Noah McLemore had restrained Gabriel Jesus Garza, 40, of San Diego following an altercation outside the Star Bar on E Street near Fourth Avenue around 8:15 p.m., sheriff’s Lt. Michael Krugh said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
Advocacy groups hope that recent proposals from the region's electric grid operator will help restrain future rate hikes in Maryland.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restrain 
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James McNicholas, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
He was dehydrated and exhausted when he was fished out of the ocean after landing, having spent several hours restrained in his couch.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
Officers Jacob Phipps and Noah McLemore had restrained Gabriel Jesus Garza, 40, of San Diego following an altercation outside the Star Bar on E Street near Fourth Avenue around 8:15 p.m., sheriff’s Lt. Michael Krugh said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
Advocacy groups hope that recent proposals from the region's electric grid operator will help restrain future rate hikes in Maryland.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for restrain
Dictionary Entries Near restrain
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrain. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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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
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