restrain meaning and definition

RESTRAIN verb

Definition of restrain (verb)

1. keep under control; keep in check
   • "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
   • synonyms: hold back, keep, keep back
2. place limits on (extent or access)
   • "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"
   • synonyms: bound, confine, limit, restrict, throttle, trammel
3. to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
   • "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom"
   • synonyms: confine, hold
4. hold back
   • synonyms: constrain, cumber, encumber
5. to compel or deter by or as if by threats
   • synonyms: intimidate