Words / C1

di-TAYN/dɪˈteɪn/

To detain is to keep someone from leaving, especially by official power: detained for questioning, detained at the border. Hold and keep are everyday; arrest is a specific legal step. Detention is the noun. Retain means keep a thing (already in the dictionary). Do not detain a parcel in this sense — that is delay or hold.

Meaning

To keep someone at a place, especially by official power, and not let them leave.

Examples

• “Police detained two people for questioning.”
• “Police detained two people overnight and released them without charge.”
• “A delayed connection detained passengers in the hall, which is weaker, everyday “held up”.”

Good to know

Keep someone from leaving (often official). Noun: detention. Legal cousin: arrest. Mix-up: retain (keep a thing). Parcels: delay/hold.

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