held prisoner

USAGE SUMMARY

"held prisoner" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone is not allowed to leave an area or situation. For example: Jill spent three days being held prisoner by the kidnappers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now 40, he was being held prisoner in the local prison.

The New York Times - Magazine

She seems to have been held prisoner.

The New York Times - Books

"It's almost like being held prisoner somewhere.

The Guardian - Film

We're being held prisoner!" cried an Iowa delegate.

The New York Times

They denied that the Tamil civilians were being held prisoner.

The New York Times

He was wounded and held prisoner by the Germans for three months.

The New York Times

Sunder endured years of abuse at the Indian temple where he was held prisoner.

Independent

Was a nurse during the World War, until captured by Russians; was held prisoner until 1916.

The New Yorker

His brother had previously described Mr Rezaian as "starved of information" after being held prisoner.

Independent

She had two broken arms and was held prisoner for eight days.

The New York Times - Magazine

He visits the coal cellar where he was held prisoner and describes his escape.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone is forcibly confined, ensure the context clearly indicates who is holding them and where. For example, specify "held prisoner by the rebels in a remote camp".

Common error

Avoid using "held prisoner" in overly passive constructions that obscure the actor responsible for the confinement. Instead of "It was held prisoner", specify who did the holding: "The artifact was held prisoner by the cultists".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held prisoner" functions primarily as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action of being confined. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse narrative contexts. It's important to remember that the phrase almost always describes someone who doesn't have agency in the situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held prisoner" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. Its primary function is to describe someone being involuntarily confined. It appears most often in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki contexts. For alternative expressions, one could consider words such as "imprisoned", "captive", or "detained", depending on the precise nuance required. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly indicate who is doing the holding, and avoid overly passive constructions that obscure the responsible actor. Considering these points will improve clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held against their will

Emphasizes the lack of consent in the confinement.

kept in captivity

Highlights the act of maintaining someone in a captured state.

imprisoned

Implies a more formal or legal confinement.

captive

Emphasizes the state of being captured and controlled by another.

incarcerated

Refers specifically to imprisonment in a jail or prison.

detained

Suggests a temporary holding, often for investigation.

in detention

Suggests a more formal holding, often by authorities.

confined

Describes a restriction of movement to a limited space.

restrained

Focuses on the limitation of movement or freedom.

in custody

Indicates being under the control of law enforcement.

FAQs

What does "held prisoner" mean?

To be "held prisoner" means to be captured and confined against one's will, typically by an enemy, captor, or authority. It implies a loss of freedom and control over one's movement.

How can I use "held prisoner" in a sentence?

You can use "held prisoner" to describe someone who is being confined, for example: "The journalist was "held prisoner" for several weeks by the terrorist group."

What are some alternatives to "held prisoner"?

Alternatives to "held prisoner" include "imprisoned", "captive", "incarcerated", or "detained", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was being held prisoner"?

Yes, "was being held prisoner" is grammatically correct. It's the past continuous passive form, indicating an ongoing state of captivity in the past.