detain

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /dɪˈteɪn/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form detain

Third-person singular detains

Past tense detained

Past participle detained

Present participle detaining

1. (transitive) If you detain someone, you prevent them from proceeding by holding them back.
2. (transitive) If a person is detained, they are put under custody.
3. (transitive) If goods are detained, they are seized for official purposes.

Related words

• detention