restrain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb keep under control; keep in check
    keep back; hold back; keep.
    • suppress a smile
    • Keep your temper
    • keep your cool
  2. verb place limits on (extent or access)
    throttle; bound; restrict; trammel; limit; confine.
    • restrict the use of this parking lot
    • limit the time you can spend with your friends
  3. verb to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
    hold; confine.
    • This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
    • About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade
    • The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center
    • The terrorists held the journalists for ransom
  4. verb hold back
    encumber; constrain; cumber.
  5. verb to compel or deter by or as if by threats
    intimidate.

WordNet

Re*strain" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. restreinen, F. restreindre, fr. L. restringere, restrictum; pref. re- re- + stringere to draw, bind, or press together. See Strain, v. t., and cf. Restrict.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Restrained ; present participle & verbal noun Restraining
Definitions
  1. To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb.
    Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose! Shak.
  2. To draw back toghtly, as a rein. Obs. Shak.
  3. To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge.
    Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty. Clarendon.
  4. To limit; to confine; to restrict. Trench.
    Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate. I. Watts.
  5. To withhold; to forbear.
    Thou restrained prayer before God. Job. xv. 4.
    Syn. -- To check; hinder; stop; withhold; repress; curb; suppress; coerce; restrict; limit; confine.

Webster 1913