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
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
However, in some cases, such as capturing and restraining a wild animal to relocate it, workers use tranquilizers or sedatives to make the animal sleepy, or cover its eyes and ears to reduce fear and prevent long-lasting problems.
—
Rachel Blaser, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025
Guards restrained them with handcuffs on their feet and hands.
—Federico Rios, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
In the footage reviewed by ABC News, multiple officers can be seen holding Brooks upright on an exam table, with his arms restrained, punching and kicking him in the face, torso and genitals.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2025
That promise could well be an empty one; Xi may not be willing or even able to restrain an emboldened Putin.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
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Rachel Blaser, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025
Guards restrained them with handcuffs on their feet and hands.
—Federico Rios, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
In the footage reviewed by ABC News, multiple officers can be seen holding Brooks upright on an exam table, with his arms restrained, punching and kicking him in the face, torso and genitals.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2025
That promise could well be an empty one; Xi may not be willing or even able to restrain an emboldened Putin.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for restrain
Cite this Entry
“Restrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrain. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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