detained; detaining; detains
1
: to hold or keep in or as if in custody
detained by the police for questioning
2
obsolete
: to keep back (something due) : withhold
3
: to restrain especially from proceeding
was detained by a flat tire
Examples of detain in a Sentence
They were detained by the police for questioning.
He claimed he had been illegally detained.
Unexpected business had detained her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vijandre is one of several immigrants who have been detained this year after speaking out against the war in Gaza, including students Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk, and British commentator Sami Hamdi, who was detained over the weekend while on a speaking tour.
—
Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Union County Prosecutor's Office Public Information Officer Lauren Farinas said that the suspect was detained after the incident for questioning, but released.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Tesla driver, who had been detained in the deputy’s vehicle at the time of the collision, was also injured, taken to the hospital, and later released, the outlets reported.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Then in September, she was detained and incarcerated by ICE.
—Marcos Breton, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detain
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Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Union County Prosecutor's Office Public Information Officer Lauren Farinas said that the suspect was detained after the incident for questioning, but released.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Tesla driver, who had been detained in the deputy’s vehicle at the time of the collision, was also injured, taken to the hospital, and later released, the outlets reported.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Then in September, she was detained and incarcerated by ICE.
—Marcos Breton, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detain
Cite this Entry
“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detain. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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