- 1to stop someone or something from doing something, especially by using physical force restrain somebody/something The prisoner had to be restrained by the police. He placed a restraining hand on her arm. restrain somebody/something from something/from doing something I had to restrain her from hitting out at passers-by. They have obtained an injunction restraining the company from selling the product.
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- 2to stop yourself from feeling an emotion or doing something that you would like to do restrain something John managed to restrain his anger. I restrained the urge to punch him. restrain yourself (from something/from doing something) She had to restrain herself from crying out in pain. I was tempted to answer back, but I restrained myself.
- 3restrain something to stop something that is growing or increasing from becoming too large synonym bring/get/keep something under control The government is taking steps to restrain inflation.
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NAmE//rɪˈstreɪn//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they restrain he / she / it restrains
past simple restrained
-ing form restraining
Check pronunciation: restrain