restrained; restraining; restrains
1
a
: to prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something
restrained the child from jumping
b
: to limit, restrict, or keep under control
try to restrain your anger
2
: to moderate or limit the force, effect, development, or full exercise of
restrain trade
3
: to deprive of liberty
especially
: to place under arrest or restraint
restrainer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of restrain in a Sentence
He could not restrain the dog from attacking.
He could restrain himself no longer.
Hospital orderlies needed to restrain the patient.
He was restrained and placed in a holding cell.
He could barely restrain his anger.
The manufacturer took measures to restrain costs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nichols is caught, then restrained and beaten by five officers at an intersection.
—
CBS News, 11 Sep. 2024
After the escape, Avila, Garcia and Becerra allegedly restrained J.R.H. and another hostage by tying their hands, then transported them to another house, held them in a room and threatened them with physical violence, according to the indictment.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
Park staff were able to restrain the tiger before paramedics arrived.
—Angus Watson, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
Neither approach has worked in restraining the Taliban, and both have made the situation for Afghan women and girls worse.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for restrain 
CBS News, 11 Sep. 2024
After the escape, Avila, Garcia and Becerra allegedly restrained J.R.H. and another hostage by tying their hands, then transported them to another house, held them in a room and threatened them with physical violence, according to the indictment.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
Park staff were able to restrain the tiger before paramedics arrived.
—Angus Watson, CNN, 2 Sep. 2024
Neither approach has worked in restraining the Taliban, and both have made the situation for Afghan women and girls worse.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for restrain
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'restrain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near restrain
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrain. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
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Legal Definition
restrain
transitive verb
re·strain
ri-ˈstrān 
1
a
: to prevent from doing something see also restraining order at order sense 3b
b
: to limit, restrict, or keep under control
2
: to moderate or limit the force, effect, development, or full exercise of
3
: to deprive of liberty and especially of physical movement
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