1
as in to arrest
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in to delay
to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing
She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detain
Local police are not legally required to detain or transfer someone based solely on the existence of an administrative warrant, legal experts including Pham and University of Texas immigration law professor Elissa Steglich told the Statesman.
—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Pertilla and Medrano were then reportedly detained and transported to Mobile County Metro Jail.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Occupants of the suspect's vehicle were detained and one was taken to an area hospital with an unknown injury, police said.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
So far there’s been no indication he was detained, Mora said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detain
Verb
-
Deputies arrested Sargent on Thursday on two felony animal-cruelty counts and one misdemeanor count.—
-
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) demanded that if and when Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino returns to Chicago, he should be arrested.—
Verb
-
If Takaichi cannot enact the budget by the end of March, her government would have to compile a stop-gap budget, which could delay execution of spending measures.—
-
For people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, delaying or not getting care could be fatal.—
Verb
-
While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.—
-
At least five have been detained in recent months, according to CNN, with some believed to be apprehended as bargaining chips for the Maduro government.—
Verb
-
On December 30, two suspects, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, were seized in Las Vegas.—
-
Morfa said many of her Venezuelan clients have passport complications, either having their documents annulled by the Maduro administration, or expire, or get seized by ICE.—
Cite this Entry
“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detain. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share