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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detain
One woman, who requested anonymity, said her husband has been detained at the facility for the past five months.
—
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 May 2026
In some cases, individuals were arrested and detained for taking part in peaceful protests, according to the report.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
Lytvynchuk was briefly detained and questioned but declined to make a statement last week, investigators previously said, without identifying him as the suspect.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Turner, who is currently detained, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detain
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 May 2026
In some cases, individuals were arrested and detained for taking part in peaceful protests, according to the report.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
Lytvynchuk was briefly detained and questioned but declined to make a statement last week, investigators previously said, without identifying him as the suspect.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Turner, who is currently detained, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detain
Verb
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On the topic of arresting homeless people, moderators asked how Bianco's sheriff's office has been known to do.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Dulce Dayana Hernandez Jimenez, 28, was arrested Tuesday at JFK Airport after a flight from Mexico, police said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Alexis Mac Allister, whose fall from grace this season has been akin to Fabinho’s stark decline in 2022-23, stupidly delayed the taking of a Villa corner with some playacting which even prompted Slot to tell him to get up.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Air Charter Service offers an eclipse charter flight from London Stansted Airport that gives eclipse chasers flexibility by delaying the final destination decision until close to departure day, allowing organizers to target the clearest skies.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The ex-roommate of former Cold as Life frontman Rodney Barger was apprehended in Panama nearly 33 years after the punk rock singer‘s shooting in Detroit.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
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Citing a letter from the school, CBS reported that the suspect was quickly apprehended by a security officer who was able to remove the gun.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Photograph courtesy Jennifer Hulse Israel seized control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during the Six-Day War, in 1967.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Bianco obtained three search warrants and began seizing ballots in February, despite being ordered by Attorney General Rob Bonta to pause the investigation.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detain. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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