Definition

To hold someone or something back from acting freely or to limit their movement or actions.

Example

The police had to restrain the crowd to prevent any violence.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I heard they had to restrain the crowd at the concert last night.

Really? That sounds intense! What happened?

Apparently, some fans got a bit too excited and started pushing.

Yikes! It's a shame they had to restrain everyone instead of letting them enjoy the show.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Restrain → It is formed from "re-" (meaning back or again) and "stringere" (meaning to bind or tie). The word "restrain" means to bind back or hold back from action.

Memory Tip

Think of 'binding back' — 're-' means back, and 'stringere' means to bind. This helps you remember that to restrain means to hold something back.

Visually Confused Words