detain him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "detain him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving law enforcement or security, where someone is being held or restrained for questioning or investigation. Example: "The officer had no choice but to detain him until further inquiries could be made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That altercation, police said, "became physical when the officers attempted to detain him". .

Los Angeles Times

No one stepped forward to detain him.

The New Yorker

There is suspicion to detain him further.

Independent

In short, ICE could still detain him.

The Washington Post

They were right to detain him, he says.

The Guardian

Each hospital tried to detain him, but he refused.

The New York Times

They said there were no grounds to detain him further.

The New York Times

"And if you find something, then you'll detain him.

The Guardian

"He's already getting old, why do they have to detain him?

The New York Times

Mr. Ghailani's lawyers did not challenge the government's authority to detain him for intelligence gathering.

The New York Times

A lower court affirmed the government's right to detain him indefinitely.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or law enforcement contexts, use "detain him" to indicate a temporary holding for investigation, distinguishing it from a formal arrest.

Common error

Avoid using "detain him" interchangeably with "arrest him". Detention implies a temporary holding for investigation, while arrest suggests formal charges have been filed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "detain him" functions as a verb phrase, where "detain" is the verb and "him" is the object pronoun. It describes the action of holding someone in custody temporarily. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "detain him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, primarily found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly describes the action of temporarily holding someone for questioning or investigation, distinguishing it from a formal arrest. When writing, it's important to use it accurately to reflect the specific nature of the situation. Alternatives like "hold him in custody" or "apprehend him" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold him in custody

This phrase emphasizes the legal aspect of holding someone for investigation or legal proceedings.

take him into custody

This suggests the action of taking someone under official control.

apprehend him

Implies the act of catching or seizing someone, often after a pursuit.

take him into detention

Focuses on the act of placing someone in a detention facility.

place him under arrest

Suggests a formal legal procedure, indicating charges are being filed.

keep him in confinement

Implies a more restrictive form of detention.

impound him

Rare usage, to be carefully considered. Primarily used for objects, using this for a person is borderline offensive, and dehumanizing. The intended meaning is to take into legal custody.

restrain him

Focuses on physically preventing someone from moving or acting freely.

prevent his departure

Emphasizes stopping someone from leaving a location.

take him captive

Suggests seizing someone and holding them against their will, often in a hostile situation.

FAQs

What does "detain him" mean?

"Detain him" means to hold someone temporarily, usually for questioning or investigation, without formally arresting them. It implies a temporary holding under authority.

What can I say instead of "detain him"?

You can use alternatives like "hold him in custody", "take him into custody", or "apprehend him" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "detain him" and "arrest him"?

"Detain him" implies a temporary holding for investigation, while "arrest him" indicates that formal charges are being filed and the person is being taken into custody for prosecution.

When is it appropriate to use "detain him" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "detain him" when describing situations where law enforcement or security personnel are holding someone temporarily for questioning or investigation, but have not yet made a formal arrest.