detaining
Holding someone back
Detaining is holding someone or delaying their departure, usually by authority or force.
Police detain suspects for questioning.
Customs officials detain travelers.
The word implies temporary custody rather than formal arrest or imprisonment: Sorry I'm late—I was detained at work.
To be detained is to be held back against your will or despite your intentions.
Civil law enforcement
- handcuffsLocking wrist restraints
- custodyProtective care or control
- bookingAdvance arrangement secured
- chargesAmounts owed or alleged
bail · suspect · warrant · officer · interrogation · arraignment · prosecution · defendant
Metal bonds for prisoners
- handcuffsLocking wrist restraints
- manaclesWrist shackles for prisoners
- bindFasten or obligate
- immobilizeStop all motion
secure · confine · hold · restrain · subdue · pin · grip · seize
Maintaining physical possession
- confinementState of being restricted
- captivityState of being confined
- internmentWartime civilian imprisonment
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
incarceration · safekeeping · supervision · watch · guard · secure · facility · center
Relocating abroad permanently
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
- asylumShelter from persecution
- borderOuter edge or limit
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
tribunal · hearing · habeas corpus · due process · indefinite · pretrial · remand · jurisdiction
police
Civil law enforcement
- handcuffsLocking wrist restraints
- custodyProtective care or control
- bookingAdvance arrangement secured
charges · bail · suspect · warrant · officer · interrogation · arraignment · prosecution · defendant · incarceration
shackles
Metal bonds for prisoners
immobilize · secure · confine · hold · restrain · subdue · pin · grip · seize · grapple
holding
Maintaining physical possession
- confinementState of being restricted
- captivityState of being confined
- internmentWartime civilian imprisonment
imprisonment · incarceration · safekeeping · supervision · watch · guard · secure · facility · center · cell
immigration
Relocating abroad permanently
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
- asylumShelter from persecution
- borderOuter edge or limit
customs · tribunal · hearing · habeas corpus · due process · indefinite · pretrial · remand · jurisdiction · administrative
hold up
Delay or armed robbery
hinder · impede · obstruct · waylay · intercept · interrupt · slow · prevent · stop · block
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
- acquiringobtaining, getting, grabbing, seizing, taking
- containingcontaining, enclosing, encasing, wrapping, enveloping
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- punishmentsjail, prison, timeout, grounded, fine
- seizuresseizure, epileptic, convulsion, fit, attack
detainingreleasing
Allowing to escape
freeing · liberating · discharging · letting go · setting free
detainingexpediting
Making progress faster
hastening · speeding · accelerating · dispatching · sending off
contain, continue, entertain, retain, maintain, obtain, sustain, detention, detain