1
as in to arrest
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Police detained Bowen at the scene.
—
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained over 260 DACA recipients and deported more than 80 in 2025 alone.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Smith is being detained at the Pinellas County Jail.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Barranco, 49, was working as a landscaper in Santa Ana when he was approached and detained by immigration officials in June 2025.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detain
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained over 260 DACA recipients and deported more than 80 in 2025 alone.
—Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Smith is being detained at the Pinellas County Jail.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Barranco, 49, was working as a landscaper in Santa Ana when he was approached and detained by immigration officials in June 2025.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detain
Verb
-
Officials said the shooter, an Army sergeant who worked at the base, used his personal handgun before he was tackled by fellow soldiers and arrested.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Erie County District Attorney's Office said Shah Alam was arrested following an incident that resulted in minor injuries to two Buffalo police officers.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The contest was delayed for about 10 minutes in the fourth after plate umpire Ron Kulpa exited due to taking a foul ball off his mask.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Along with Buttó, right-hander Hayden Birdsong underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, while right-handers Joel Peguero (Grade 2 hamstring strain) and left-hander Reiver Sanmartin (right hip flexor) sustained injuries that delayed the starts to their seasons.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police officials said the Bronx Warrant Squad was trying to apprehend Lucien Colon, 44.—
Doug Williams,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Following a brief foot pursuit, officers apprehended him in the vicinity of the stabbing, authorities said.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police said that officers seized a quantity of marijuana and a gun that was later found to have been stolen.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
How Jewish villas in the posh Grunewald area were bought up or seized by Nazi bigshots, but now belong to Russian oligarchs.—
John Powers,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detain. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
