What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imprison
Example
The criminal was imprisoned for his crimes. [imprison: verb]
Example
The government has the power to imprison individuals who break the law. [imprison: verb]
Example
The hostages were imprisoned in a small room for several days. [imprisoned: past tense]
confine
Example
The doctor advised the patient to confine himself to bed rest for a few days. [confine: verb]
Example
The company has confined its employees to working from home due to the pandemic. [confine: verb]
Example
The river is confined by the high walls of the canyon. [confined: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confine is more commonly used than imprison in everyday language. Confine is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while imprison is less common and is typically used in legal or criminal justice contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between imprison and confine?
Imprison is a more formal word than confine. It is typically used in legal or criminal justice contexts, while confine can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
