detain

verb

Definition of detainnext
1
as in to arrest
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law Police detained the suspect.

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2
as in to delay
to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word detain distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of detain are delay, retard, slacken, and slow. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

When is delay a more appropriate choice than detain?

While in some cases nearly identical to detain, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

In what contexts can retard take the place of detain?

In some situations, the words retard and detain are roughly equivalent. However, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

When might slacken be a better fit than detain?

Although the words slacken and detain have much in common, slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

How do slow and slacken relate to one another, in the sense of detain?

Both slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detain He was detained by immigration enforcement in March but released in June after a long and publicized detention. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2025 More than 300 South Korean workers were detained by ICE during a raid at the joint venture on September 4th and were deported back to South Korea last week. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025 The Virginia-Pilot reported the incident brought the number of Carnival Cruise Line workers who’ve been detained while docked at the cruise center in Norfolk to 28. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025 Manufacturing talent has been spotlighted in recent weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided an LG-Hyundai factory in Georgia earlier this month, detaining several hundred Korean workers. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detain
  1. arrest
  2. delay
  3. apprehend
  4. seize
Verb
  • British police have arrested three people on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence services, highlighting the threat posed to NATO allies as Russia pursues hybrid warfare against Western powers.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Scott, McDonald and Neary were arrested, but Rackauckas and a Fullerton police detective persuaded Neary to testify against the other two men, according to the motion.
    — Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • Physical activity has long been associated with lower dementia risk in multiple studies, so much so that the 2024 Lancet Commission identified it as one of 14 factors responsible for preventing or delaying approximately 45% of dementia cases.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The abundance of salmon in Katmai National Park and Bristol Bay in southern Alaska is contributing to a drop in conflict among the bears this year compared to the 2024 competition, which was delayed when one large bear killed another.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of delay
Verb
  • He was apprehended hours later, the FBI confirmed to Fox News.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The 1850 version mandated that the federal government actively help slave catchers track and apprehend people who’d escaped slavery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of apprehend
Verb
  • The Dragons seized another possession with a fumble recovery from Parker Harris — that set up a 10-play scoring drive capped by a four-yard rushing score from Renda.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2025
  • At trial in December 2023, the jury found Jean — who owned homes in Wellington, Florida, and Long Island, New York, that were seized by authorities — guilty of conspiracy and four wire fraud counts.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of seize

Browse Nearby Words

details
detain
detained
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Cite this Entry

“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detain. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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