detain
B2Formal, official, legal, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
To keep someone in an official place (e.g., police station, airport) and prevent them from leaving, often for questioning or investigation.
To delay or hold back someone or something from proceeding; to keep someone's attention.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in legal, security, and official contexts. Implies authority and a temporary state. Can be neutral (official procedure) or negative (unjustified holding).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Detained at Her Majesty's pleasure' is a specific UK legal phrase. In US immigration context, 'detain' is very common.
Connotations
In both, carries strong connotations of legal/state authority. Can imply suspicion of wrongdoing.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media due to prevalent discussions on police and immigration procedures.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: authority] detain [Object: person] (for [time period]) (for [reason])[Subject: authority] detain [Object: person] on [grounds/charge/suspicion of X][Subject: event/object] detain [Object: person] (e.g., The meeting detained me.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Detained at His/Her Majesty's pleasure (UK legal)”
- “Detained without trial”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly 'The contract dispute detained the shipment for a week.'
Academic
Used in legal, political science, and human rights discourses. 'The study examines laws that allow the state to detain non-citizens.'
Everyday
Uncommon in casual talk. Used when discussing news about police or airport security. 'My cousin was detained at customs for an hour.'
Technical
Core term in law enforcement, immigration, and international human rights law (e.g., 'arbitrary detention').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Police can detain you for up to 24 hours without charge under this law.
- The immigration officer decided to detain the passenger pending further checks.
- I'm sorry to detain you after the meeting, but I have a quick question.
American English
- The officer detained the suspect for matching the description.
- He was detained by border patrol for having incomplete documentation.
- Could I detain you for a moment to sign this form?
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'in detention'.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'in detention'.
adjective
British English
- The detained man was taken to the local station for processing.
- They reviewed the case of every detained individual.
American English
- The detained protesters were released after a few hours.
- Access to legal counsel for detained persons is a fundamental right.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher detained the class for five minutes after the bell.
- The police detained the driver to check his documents.
- Passengers may be detained if security finds something suspicious.
- The new legislation grants authorities the power to detain individuals considered a threat to national security.
- He was wrongfully detained at the airport due to a clerical error.
- The government's policy of detaining asylum seekers indefinitely has been criticized by human rights organizations.
- The captivating speaker detained the audience's attention for the full two-hour lecture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of being kept IN a train station by officials. DE (down, completely) + TAIN (to hold, like 'retain') = to hold down/back completely.
Conceptual Metaphor
FREEDOM IS FORWARD MOTION / DETENTION IS AN OBSTRUCTION. Detaining someone is seen as stopping their forward progress (in their journey, their day, their life).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'задерживать' meaning simply 'to delay' a meeting or object. English 'detain' almost always requires a human object and an agent with authority. For delaying an event, use 'delay' or 'postpone'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'detain' for objects (e.g., 'The bad weather detained the flight' - use 'delayed').
- Using 'arrest' and 'detain' interchangeably. An arrest is a specific type of detention leading to charge; you can be detained without being arrested.
- Incorrect preposition: 'detain at the airport' (correct), not 'detain in the airport' for the initial action.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'detain' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Detain' is a broad term for holding someone officially. 'Arrest' is a specific legal action charging someone with a crime. 'Delay' is general for making something late and is used for events, people, or objects.
Yes, though less common. 'May I detain you for a moment?' is a polite, neutral request for someone's time. The primary context (legal) is usually negative or neutral/official.
The main noun form is 'detainee' (the person held). 'Detention' is the state or process of being detained (e.g., 'placed in detention').
'Detain' focuses on the act of preventing departure. 'Confine' focuses on the state of being restricted within limits, which can be physical (a room) or metaphorical (confined to bed). Detention often implies a legal/formal reason for confinement.