keep him imprisoned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep him imprisoned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing confinement or detention, often in legal, narrative, or metaphorical situations. Example: "The villain's plan was to keep him imprisoned until he revealed the location of the treasure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The court's ruling will keep him imprisoned until well after the March 14 presidential elections.

The New York Times

American officials hoped that the Iraqis would prosecute Mr. Daqduq on charges that would keep him imprisoned for a long time.

The New York Times

Bergen County prosecutors have said that if they had been properly notified of Mr. Alves's release, they would have invoked legal safeguards to keep him imprisoned.

The New York Times

To keep him imprisoned longer without charge, the authorities would have to resort to Egypt's emergency law, which permits detention of up to six months without charge.

The New York Times

However, he was so powerful that he would inevitably escape, so they created three stones that contained the power to keep him imprisoned.

Wikipedia

For years, neither Sweden nor the UK would agree to that because, it appears, their foreign ministries are collaborating with the US government to keep him imprisoned.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Once, protesters kept him imprisoned in his office until 4 a.m.

The New York Times

With the courtroom packed with supporters, Mr. Khodorkovsky stood up in the glass cage that has kept him imprisoned even during the trial.

The New York Times

Although Chiang did establish a second United Front with the communists to fight the Japanese, he later arrested Zhang Xueliang (who had accompanied Chiang back to the capital of Nanjing) and kept him imprisoned throughout the war.

Britannica

The same day he posted the video on YouTube, the FBI arrested him on charges of threatening a federal agent, and then kept him imprisoned with no indictment for weeks on the ground that he posed an immediate threat to Smith.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rögnvaldr's response was, according to the chronicle, to have Óláfr seized and sent to William I, King of Scots, who kept him imprisoned for almost seven years.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep him imprisoned", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the imprisoning and the reasons behind it. This will add clarity and prevent ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "keep him imprisoned" loosely in metaphorical situations where the confinement isn't literal. Overusing it can weaken the impact of the phrase when describing actual imprisonment or detention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep him imprisoned" functions as a verb phrase, where "keep" acts as a transitive verb indicating the continuation of a state, and "him imprisoned" serves as the direct object and object complement, describing the state being maintained. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

29%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep him imprisoned" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it accurately describes the act of maintaining someone's confinement. While related phrases like "hold him captive" or "detain him" offer subtle variations in meaning, "keep him imprisoned" specifically emphasizes the continuation of that state. When writing, ensure the context is clear about who is imprisoning whom and why, and avoid overuse in metaphorical contexts to maintain the phrase's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold him captive

Focuses on the act of holding someone against their will.

detain him

Implies a more formal or legal holding, often by authorities.

confine him

Highlights the restriction of movement to a specific space.

incarcerate him

Specifically refers to imprisonment as a form of punishment.

hold him in custody

Emphasizes the legal responsibility of holding someone.

keep him detained

Similar to 'detain him' but emphasizes the continuation of the detention.

hold him prisoner

Highlights the state of being a prisoner, emphasizing lack of freedom.

prevent his release

Focuses on stopping someone from being freed.

maintain his confinement

Emphasizes the continuation of the confinement.

ensure his captivity

Highlights the effort to make sure someone remains captive.

FAQs

How can I use "keep him imprisoned" in a sentence?

You can use "keep him imprisoned" to describe actions taken to prolong someone's confinement, such as "The prosecution fought to keep him imprisoned after his initial sentence".

What are some alternatives to "keep him imprisoned"?

Alternatives include "hold him captive", "detain him", or "confine him", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "keep him imprisoned" or "hold him prisoner"?

Both phrases are valid, but "keep him imprisoned" emphasizes the act of maintaining the imprisonment, while "hold him prisoner" highlights the state of being a prisoner.

What's the difference between "detain him" and "keep him imprisoned"?

"Detain him" implies a more formal or legal holding, often by authorities, whereas "keep him imprisoned" suggests a continued state of confinement, which could be legal or otherwise. If you say, "the police decided to "detain him"", you suggest that the goal is to hold him temporarily. If you say, "the police fought to "keep him imprisoned"", you are likely talking about after some legal process has happened, such as an appeal or a parole hearing.