- 1confine somebody/something to something [often passive] to keep someone or something inside the limits of a particular activity, subject, area, etc. synonym restrict The work will not be confined to the Cleveland area. I will confine myself to looking at the period from 1900 to 1916.
- 2confine somebody/something (in something) [usually passive] to keep a person or an animal in a small or closed space Keep the dog confined in a suitable traveling cage. Here the river is confined in a narrow channel. The soldiers concerned were confined to barracks (= had to stay in the barracks, as a punishment)
- 3be confined to bed, a wheelchair, etc. to have to stay in bed, in a wheelchair, etc. She was confined to bed with the flu. He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.
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NAmE//kənˈfaɪn//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they confine he / she / it confines
past simple confined
-ing form confining
Check pronunciation: confine