detains

Prevents from leaving

Detains is the present tense of detain, meaning to hold someone in custody or keep them from proceeding.

Police detain suspects for questioning.

Customs officers detain travelers.

The word implies temporary holding rather than permanent imprisonment: Security detains him while they check his credentials.

More broadly, anything that delays you detains you: I won't detain you long.

arrests

apprehend

Seize or understand

warrant · police · suspect · charge · interrogation · arraignment · prosecution · Miranda · sheriff · officer

confinement

jail

Detention facility

imprisonment · lockup · penitentiary · captivity · internment · holding · correctional · gaol · brig · stockade

immigration

deportation

Legal expulsion from country

  • borderOuter edge or limit
  • checkpointInspection station on route
  • ICEImmigration enforcement bureau

migrant · asylum · undocumented · visa · customs · processing · facility · camp · center · separation

delay

hold up

Delay or armed robbery

  • delayEnforced waiting period
  • keepRetain or fortified tower
  • waylayIntercept to confront

buttonhole · slow down · hinder · impede · obstruct · stall · accost · corner · engage · occupy

Categories
Opposites
custody/confinement

detainsreleases

Lets go or publishes

frees · liberates · lets go · discharges · sets free

temporal flow/delay

detainsexpedites

Makes swifter or easier

speeds · hastens · rushes · accelerates · hurries

Phrases
Family

detain, detained, detainee, detainment, detaining, detainer

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G