restrain
intermediateformal/neutral
Definition
Meaning
To hold back or prevent someone or something from doing something; to control or limit actions, emotions, or forces.
To impose restrictions on freedom, behavior, or development, often through authority, self-discipline, or physical means, applicable in legal, emotional, and technical contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Emphasizes active control or limitation, often with connotations of authority, prevention of excess, or maintenance of order; can involve physical, emotional, legal, or metaphorical restraint.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; both varieties use 'restrain' similarly in meaning and grammatical patterns. No significant spelling or pronunciation variations.
Connotations
In British English, slightly more common in legal and formal documents; in American English, equally prevalent in everyday and technical contexts. Both carry similar nuances of control or limitation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English, with no notable disparity in usage across registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
restrain + object (e.g., restrain the patient)restrain + object + from + gerund (e.g., restrain him from leaving)restrain + reflexive pronoun (e.g., restrain yourself)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “keep under restraint”
- “show restraint”
- “without restraint”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe limiting market forces, e.g., 'regulations restrain monopolistic practices.'
Academic
Common in psychology and law to discuss self-control or legal limits, e.g., 'the study examines how societies restrain deviant behavior.'
Everyday
Applied to controlling emotions or actions, e.g., 'she had to restrain her excitement.'
Technical
In engineering or medicine, refers to physical restraints or safety limits, e.g., 'the device restrains motion during operation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The police had to restrain the protestors from entering the building.
- She restrained her tears during the emotional speech.
American English
- Officers restrained the suspect during the arrest.
- He restrained his impulse to argue in the meeting.
adverb
British English
- He spoke restrainedly, careful not to offend anyone.
- The growth increased restrainedly over the years.
American English
- She acted restrainedly in the crisis, avoiding panic.
- The economy expanded restrainedly due to new regulations.
adjective
British English
- His restrained manner made him seem aloof.
- The design featured restrained colours and simple lines.
American English
- Her restrained response showed great discipline.
- The artwork had a restrained palette of grays and blues.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mother restrained her child from touching the hot stove.
- He restrained his dog with a leash.
- The teacher restrained the students from running in the corridor.
- Laws restrain people from committing crimes.
- The government implemented policies to restrain inflation.
- She had to restrain her curiosity during the secret discussion.
- Judicial reviews can restrain executive overreach in democratic systems.
- Advanced materials are used to restrain vibrations in aerospace engineering.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'strain' in 'restrain'—like putting strain on something to hold it back or keep it in place.
Conceptual Metaphor
Control is holding back; freedom is movement, restraint is blockage or binding.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'ограничивать' (restrict), which is broader; 'restrain' implies more active, direct holding back.
- Do not use 'restrain' for simple limitations without a sense of prevention or control; prefer 'limit' or 'control' in some contexts.
- Note that 'сдерживать' is closer but may overemphasize emotional restraint; 'restrain' can be physical or legal.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'restrain' without an object (e.g., incorrect: 'He tried to restrain.' Correct: 'He tried to restrain himself.')
- Confusing 'restrain' with 'restrict' (e.g., 'restrain trade' vs. 'restrict access'—'restrain' implies holding back actions, while 'restrict' sets boundaries).
- Incorrect preposition use (e.g., 'restrain to do' instead of 'restrain from doing').
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, which word is closest in meaning to 'restrain'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It means to hold back or prevent someone or something from doing something, often through control or limitation.
'Restrain' typically implies active holding back or prevention of actions, while 'restrict' focuses on setting limits or boundaries on scope, access, or quantity.
Yes, it is commonly used to describe controlling or holding back emotions, such as anger or excitement.
No, there are no significant differences in usage, meaning, or frequency between British and American English for 'restrain'.