restrain Hear it!

restrain Definition

re·strain (ri strān′)

transitive verb

  1. to hold back from action; check; suppress; curb
  2. to keep under control
  3. to deprive of physical liberty, as by shackling, arresting, etc.
  4. to limit; restrict

Etymology: ME restreinen < OFr restreindre < L restringere < re-, back + stringere, to draw tight: see strict

  • restraighten
  • re-strain
restrain Related Forms
re·strain′·able adjective re·strain′·edly adverb
restrain Usage Examples

Object

  • defendant: Kewell is also claiming an injunction restraining the defendants from repeating the allegedly defamatory views.
  • excess: One of the State's duties is to restrain the worst excesses of human sinfulness.
  • evil: Remove that and you would be just like him, especially if God were no longer restrain the evil within you.
  • breach: Injunctions and Stop Notices Used in exceptional circumstances where the Council considers it necessary to restrain an immediately harmful breach of planning control.
  • inflation: Applies 2002-2006 ) Strict monetary policy Tight monetary policy to restrain inflation.
  • pupil: Use of force to control or restrain pupils See guidance below.

Subject

  • belt: Both the booster seat and the child are restrained by the adult seat belt.
  • police: Mr Sylvester died in hospital after restrained by police out side his house.
  • officer: Mr Sylvester died in January, after being restrained by eight police officers.

Adjective complement

  • evil: Reason number four, government is designed to restrain evil.

Modifying Another Word

  • forcibly: Here, Mrs Y would be harmed by forcibly restraining her in order to insert the needle for anesthesia.
  • physically: In the early hours of 1 April he had been physically restrained by nursing staff.
  • scarcely: With these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
  • barely: Written by producer John Court, his song just has the edge over New City, with its barely restrained vocal power.
  • safely: However, it is advised to always safely restrain your child in the car.
  • properly: Volvo recommends that all children under the age of 12 be properly restrained in the rear seats at all times.

Preposition: in

  • seat: Volvo recommends that all children under the age of 12 be properly restrained in the rear seats at all times.

Preposition: by

  • belt: Both the booster seat and the child are restrained by the adult seat belt.
  • police: Mr Sylvester died in hospital after restrained by police out side his house.
  • officer: Mr Sylvester died in January, after being restrained by eight police officers.
restrain Quotes

When people are too comfortable, it is not possible to restrain them within the bounds of their duty† They may be compared to mules who, being accustomed to burdens, are spoilt by rest rather than labour.

—Cardinal Richelieu