FluentPlex

detain

/dɪˈteɪn/ verb C1
  1. To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay. (transitive)
  2. To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention. (transitive)
  3. To put someone under custody. (transitive)
  4. To seize goods for official purposes. (transitive)

He/she/it detains · Past detained · Past participle detained · -ing form detaining

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Verb forms

Base form
detain
He/she/it
detains
Past
detained
Past participle
detained
-ing form
detaining

From the library

But Gilbert had also sprung from the boat and now laid a detaining hand on her arm.
Anne of Green Gables, p. 226 · C1
You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me.”
Pride and Prejudice, p. 104 · B2
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr.
Pride and Prejudice, p. 132 · B2
Bingley will not be detained in London by them.”
Pride and Prejudice, p. 136 · B2

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.