restrain

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "restrain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean to hold back, limit, or control someone or something. Example: The lawyer requested the judge to restrain the defendants from harassing the witnesses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unable to restrain the spiky haired libertine, the hotel was forced to call in the Thai army who resorted to shooting the unhinged Billy with tranquilliser darts after he refused to leave his suite.

The Guardian - Travel

How should I restrain the woman attacking my fellow officers?

The Guardian

O'Brien last week applied for a injunction to restrain broadcasters reporting about his deal with IBRC on the grounds that it breached his privacy rights and would cause him incalculable commercial damage.

The Guardian

It looked like a bomb had hit it, but I didn't restrain him.

The Guardian

The owner of Britain's railtracks, signals and stations said that it will restrain executive pay by cutting the maximum bonus award from 160% of salary to 20%.

The Guardian - Business

Although I served as an officer in the Syrian army after graduation, I could not restrain myself from taking part in protests in Damascus in March 2011, and soon after defecting to the Free Syrian Army.

The Guardian

Introducing a "largely automated approval framework" for the use of force inside immigration detention, essentially allowing Serco the power to physically restrain asylum seekers – contingent on their "risk rating", without the need to consult the immigration department as Guardian Australia understands they had done in the past.

The Guardian

With friends and family, his razor-sharp wit could flourish, while in public he felt he had to restrain it in the interests of being a better Christian.

The Guardian

End the practice of health staff calling police on to locked wards to restrain distressed patients when in crisis, and ban the use of Tasers against those detained under the Mental Health Act.

The Guardian

Other than that, for God's sake, restrain yourselves.

The Guardian

It is clear from internal paperwork that GCHQ has created systems to restrain the use of this powerful tool and to ensure that its use complies not only with Ripa but also with the 1998 Human Rights Act, which requires essentially that the use of the data must be proportional to the crime or threat investigated.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "restrain", consider the degree of force or control you want to convey. It can range from gentle guidance to forceful suppression. Choose synonyms that accurately reflect the intended level of constraint.

Common error

While "restrain" is versatile, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using alternatives like "hold back", "keep in check", or "control" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "restrain" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It signifies the act of controlling, limiting, or holding back someone or something. Ludwig AI provides examples where "restrain" is used to describe controlling actions, emotions, or even economic factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "restrain" is a versatile transitive verb that means to control, limit, or hold back. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage in diverse contexts, mainly in News & Media and Formal & Business categories. While grammatically sound and frequently used, it is important to consider the level of formality and choose appropriate synonyms for informal settings. Understanding the nuances of "restrain" and its related phrases can improve clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold back

Focuses on preventing action or expression.

keep in check

Emphasizes maintaining control over something or someone.

limit

Highlights setting boundaries or restrictions.

control

Suggests having power over someone or something.

curb

Implies reducing or controlling undesirable activity.

restrict

Focuses on imposing limitations or constraints.

inhibit

Highlights preventing or slowing down a process or action.

suppress

Implies forcefully stopping or preventing something.

check

Focuses on stopping or slowing something undesirable.

constrain

Highlights limiting freedom or action through external forces.

FAQs

How can I use "restrain" in a sentence?

You can use "restrain" to indicate limiting or controlling someone or something. For example, "The police had to restrain the suspect" or "The government is trying to restrain inflation."

What's the difference between "restrain" and "restrict"?

"Restrain" often implies holding back or controlling a force or action, while "restrict" means to put a limit on something. You might restrain someone's movement but restrict their access to information.

What are some synonyms for "restrain"?

Alternatives for "restrain" include "limit", "control", "curb", "inhibit", and "suppress", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "restrain from"?

Yes, it is correct to use "restrain from" followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, "I had to restrain myself from laughing" is grammatically sound.