imprison

verb

im·​pris·​on im-ˈpri-zᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning; imprisons

transitive verb

: to put in or as if in prison : confine
imprisonment noun

Examples of imprison in a Sentence

He was imprisoned for murder. He has threatened to imprison his political opponents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Iranian director Farsi experienced the revolution at 13, was imprisoned at 16 as a dissident, and left her native Iran at 18. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 July 2025 On the afternoon of July 2, the Phoenix Police Department responded to calls from a woman who reported the details of her assault, kidnapping and threats against her life while physically imprisoned at a home near Interstate 17 and Orangewood Avenue, court documents said. Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025 Today, America imprisons more people than any other democracy on earth by a wide margin. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 Nautilus stars Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) as the legendary Captain Nemo, an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, imprisoned by the East India Mercantile Company, and driven by revenge against the forces that have taken everything from him. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for imprison

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French emprisoner, from en- + prison prison

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imprison was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imprison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprison. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

imprison

verb
im·​pris·​on im-ˈpriz-ᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning
-ˈpriz-(ə-)niŋ
: to put in or as if in prison
imprisonment noun

Legal Definition

imprison

transitive verb
im·​pris·​on
: to confine in prison especially as punishment for a crime compare false imprisonment
imprisonment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on imprison

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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