What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
confine
Example
The prisoners were confined to their cells for 23 hours a day. [confined: verb]
Example
The company's budget constraints confined them to a smaller office space. [confined: past participle]
restrain
Example
The police officer had to restrain the suspect to prevent him from escaping. [restrain: verb]
Example
I had to restrain myself from eating the whole cake. [restrain: reflexive verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restrain is more commonly used than confine in everyday language. Restrain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while confine is less common and refers to a more specific type of limitation.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between confine and restrain?
Both confine and restrain can be used in formal and informal contexts, but confine may be more formal due to its specific and technical connotations in legal or medical contexts.
