restrain
hold back a person or animal
To hold or keep a person or animal so they cannot move freely or do what they want.
to restrain [someone/something] (from) [doing something]
- Security guards had to restrain the fan when he ran onto the field.
- Police officers restrained the suspect until the handcuffs were on.
- Nurses gently restrained the patient to stop him pulling out the tubes.
- It took three people to restrain the dog during the examination.
- He grabbed his friend's arm to restrain him from hitting the man.
- Two men restrained the thief until the police came.
- The teacher restrained the boy so he would not hit anyone.
- They had to restrain the dog when the doorbell rang.
- A guard restrained him from running onto the road.
control emotions or impulses
To stop yourself or another person from doing something you want to do or from showing strong feelings.
to restrain [oneself/someone] from [doing something]
- She struggled to restrain her anger during the meeting.
- He could not restrain himself from correcting her in front of everyone.
- I had to restrain myself from laughing when he fell off the chair.
- They urged him to restrain his desire for revenge.
- He spoke slowly, clearly restraining his frustration.
- Please restrain yourself and stay calm.
- She tried to restrain her tears in public.
- I could not restrain myself from eating the cake.
- He restrained his anger and did not shout.
limit or control something
To make sure that something, like spending or prices, does not grow too fast or become too strong.
to restrain [something]
- The government introduced new taxes to restrain consumer spending.
- Interest rates were raised to help restrain inflation.
- Strict rules were brought in to restrain the growth of online gambling.
- Managers are trying to restrain costs without cutting jobs.
- Environmental regulations aim to restrain industrial pollution.
- The company is trying to restrain its costs.
- Higher prices may restrain demand for cars.
- New laws helped restrain inflation.
- We must restrain our spending this year.
legally prevent an action
To stop someone from doing something by using the law or official power.
to restrain [someone] from [doing something]
- The court restrained the company from using the trademark.
- An injunction was granted to restrain him from contacting his former partner.
- The judge refused to restrain the newspaper from publishing the story.
- The order restrains the government from deporting the asylum seekers.
- Shareholders sought to restrain the board from selling key assets.
- The court restrained him from visiting his children.
- A judge can restrain a company from breaking the law.
- The order restrained the landlord from entering the flat.
- They asked the court to restrain the city from closing the school.
- Base: restrain
- 3rd Person Singular: restrains
- Present Participle: restraining
- Past: restrained
cannot restrain oneself
1be unable to control oneself
Used when someone tries, but fails, to stop themselves from doing or saying something.
- She cannot restrain herself from correcting other people’s grammar.
- He tried to stay calm but could not restrain himself and started shouting.
restrain yourself
1tell someone to control themselves
Used to tell someone, or yourself, not to do something you strongly want to do, usually because it is not sensible or polite.
- I know you want to shout, but please restrain yourself.
- He had to restrain himself from checking his phone during the interview.
restraining order
1legal order to keep someone away
A legal paper from a court that says a person must not contact or go near another person or place.
- She got a restraining order against her ex-husband.
- The judge issued a restraining order to protect the witnesses.