What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
detain
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning. [detained: past tense]
Example
The flight was delayed, and we were all detained at the airport. [detained: verb]
restrain
Example
The teacher had to restrain the student from hitting another classmate. [restrain: verb]
Example
The doctor used restraints to keep the patient from hurting themselves. [restraints: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restrain is more commonly used than detain in everyday language. Restrain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detain is less common and often used in legal or law enforcement contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between detain and restrain?
Both detain and restrain can be used in formal or informal contexts, but detain is more likely to be used in formal or legal settings.
