Restrain
/rɪˈstreɪn/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo keep under control; to prevent from doing something.
/rɪˈstreɪn/
To prevent someone or something from doing something.
She had to restrain her laughter during the serious meeting.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a party and really want to eat all the cake at once, but your mom asks you to *restrain* yourself so you won't be sick later. It means you should stop yourself from doing something you want to do.
👶 For kids: To stop someone or something from doing something. Like, if you want to run around but your mom tells you to restrain, that means you need to stop.
More Examples
The government imposed new laws to restrain the spread of fake news.
I had to restrain myself from yelling at the loud children.
How It's Used
"The police had to restrain the unruly crowd."
"Doctors sometimes need to restrain patients for their safety."
To control or limit the movements of someone or something by physical force.
/rɪˈstreɪn/
To prevent someone from moving by holding them.
The security guards had to restrain the intruder.
💡 Simply: Imagine the police are trying to catch a person, and they *restrain* them – they hold them down or use handcuffs so they can't move. It's about stopping someone from moving.
👶 For kids: To hold someone so they can't move. Like, if you are fighting with your friends, you may get restrained to stop you.
More Examples
The nurse had to restrain the patient to prevent him from injuring himself.
He was restrained by the police after the fight.
How It's Used
"The officers struggled to restrain the suspect."
"Nurses often need to restrain patients who are a danger to themselves or others."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
restrain oneself
To control your actions, feelings, or desires.
"She had to restrain herself from crying when she heard the news."
From Middle English *restraynen*, from Old French *restraindre* ('to hold back, limit'), from Latin *restringere* ('to bind back, restrict'), from *re-* ('back') + *stringere* ('to draw tight, bind').
The word 'restrain' has been used since the 14th century, primarily with meanings related to control and restriction, both physically and in terms of emotions or behavior. It was frequently used in legal and religious contexts to describe limitations.
Memory tip
Think of putting a leash on a dog. You're restraining it from running free.
Word Origin
"to bind back, restrict"