detain
🇺🇸
/dɪˈteɪn/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈteɪn/
verb
C1
to hold someone in a place like a police station or prison and not let them leave
The police can detain someone they suspect of a crime for questioning.
C1
to delay someone or stop them from going where they planned
Bad weather may detain flights at the airport for hours.
translation
to hold someone in a place like a police station or prison and not let them leave; to delay someone or stop them from going where they planned
Word Forms
3rd Present
detains
Past
detained
Perfect
detained
Progressive
detaining