Restrain
verb
To hold back from doing or expressing something.
She had to restrain herself from laughing at his foolishness.
Often appears as...
- restrain oneself
- restrain from laughing
verb
To control the actions or behavior of someone by force.
The police had to restrain the man until backup arrived.
Often appears as...
- restrain a person
- physically restrain
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To limit or restrict something's growth, action, or expression.
The policies are intended to restrain inflation.
Often appears as...
- restrain inflation
- restrain business dealings
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
verb
To hold back from doing or expressing something.
She had to restrain herself from laughing at his foolishness.
Often appears as...
- restrain oneself
- restrain from laughing
verb
To control the actions or behavior of someone by force.
The police had to restrain the man until backup arrived.
Often appears as...
- restrain a person
- physically restrain
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To limit or restrict something's growth, action, or expression.
The policies are intended to restrain inflation.
Often appears as...
- restrain inflation
- restrain business dealings
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Management
Use 'restrain' when talking about controlling strong emotions or natural reactions.
She had to restrain her anger when she saw the broken vase.
Pro Tip 2/3Internal Struggle
'Restrain' often indicates an internal struggle to avoid an action one is tempted to do.
He restrained himself from yelling during the debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Prevent Spontaneity
It suggests stopping oneself from doing something spontaneous or impulsive.
I had to restrain myself from buying the expensive shoes.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Management
Use 'restrain' when talking about controlling strong emotions or natural reactions.
She had to restrain her anger when she saw the broken vase.
Pro Tip 2/3Internal Struggle
'Restrain' often indicates an internal struggle to avoid an action one is tempted to do.
He restrained himself from yelling during the debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Prevent Spontaneity
It suggests stopping oneself from doing something spontaneous or impulsive.
I had to restrain myself from buying the expensive shoes.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Management
Use 'restrain' when talking about controlling strong emotions or natural reactions.
She had to restrain her anger when she saw the broken vase.
Pro Tip 2/3Internal Struggle
'Restrain' often indicates an internal struggle to avoid an action one is tempted to do.
He restrained himself from yelling during the debate.
Pro Tip 3/3Prevent Spontaneity
It suggests stopping oneself from doing something spontaneous or impulsive.
I had to restrain myself from buying the expensive shoes.
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Video examples
A simple way to break a...
we fall back into our old habits, which is why this disenchantment is so important. Seeing what we get from our habits helps us understand them at a deeper level -- to know it in our bones so we don't have to force ourselves to hold back or restrain ourselves from behavior. We're just less interested in doing it in the first place.
Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
but if you don't restrain the hands of the violent bullies from taking it all away, you're going to be very disappointed in the long-term impact of your efforts. So you would think that the disintegration of basic law enforcement in the developing world would be a huge priority for the global fight against poverty.
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
had to do I actually and don't do this one at home but what I did is actually hold the snake right behind the head and was just sitting on it like a cowboy you know run in riding a horse to restrain the gaboon viper and my helper who used
Video examples
What’s the point(e) of...
but also style and personality. Like an actor delivering their lines, ballerinas can execute their movements to convey a wide range of emotion. Aurora can be elegant and restrained, throwing her arms in independence from her suitors.
Video examples
No one should die...
I watched soldiers restrain them. They were not allowed to flee. We were the lucky ones. We lost what we had, but we resettled in America, and as immigrants, we benefitted from the community of supporters that rallied around us.
Video examples
County Jail Booking...
disorderly conduct to theft and assault surprisingly they're not cuffed or restrained in any way it's part of a policy intended to help reduce stress during booking but over two-thirds of the arrestees are drug users and many
Video examples
Rinkhal Snake Plays Dead...
snake but it will help me show you how cunning it can be with the head restrained a snake really feeling like it has nowhere to go the next thing that the ring casts does just play dead look at that
Video examples
Fighting injustice with...
chemically restrained with harmful medication I saw adults and babies who were merely stored not treated punished not helped until it was time to die
Video examples
Kayvon Tehranian: How...
DMCA, DRM and watermarks onto the internet to protect our ideas and to restrain their distribution. None of these approaches have worked. Why?
Video examples
Self Stabbing PIPE National...
against his chest it is the job of his keeper to restrain him all around him others take the same dead only rarely does the blade actually
Video examples
A simple way to break a...
we fall back into our old habits, which is why this disenchantment is so important. Seeing what we get from our habits helps us understand them at a deeper level -- to know it in our bones so we don't have to force ourselves to hold back or restrain ourselves from behavior. We're just less interested in doing it in the first place.
Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
but if you don't restrain the hands of the violent bullies from taking it all away, you're going to be very disappointed in the long-term impact of your efforts. So you would think that the disintegration of basic law enforcement in the developing world would be a huge priority for the global fight against poverty.
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
had to do I actually and don't do this one at home but what I did is actually hold the snake right behind the head and was just sitting on it like a cowboy you know run in riding a horse to restrain the gaboon viper and my helper who used
Video examples
What’s the point(e) of...
but also style and personality. Like an actor delivering their lines, ballerinas can execute their movements to convey a wide range of emotion. Aurora can be elegant and restrained, throwing her arms in independence from her suitors.
Video examples
No one should die...
I watched soldiers restrain them. They were not allowed to flee. We were the lucky ones. We lost what we had, but we resettled in America, and as immigrants, we benefitted from the community of supporters that rallied around us.
Video examples
County Jail Booking...
disorderly conduct to theft and assault surprisingly they're not cuffed or restrained in any way it's part of a policy intended to help reduce stress during booking but over two-thirds of the arrestees are drug users and many
Video examples
Rinkhal Snake Plays Dead...
snake but it will help me show you how cunning it can be with the head restrained a snake really feeling like it has nowhere to go the next thing that the ring casts does just play dead look at that
Video examples
Fighting injustice with...
chemically restrained with harmful medication I saw adults and babies who were merely stored not treated punished not helped until it was time to die
Video examples
Kayvon Tehranian: How...
DMCA, DRM and watermarks onto the internet to protect our ideas and to restrain their distribution. None of these approaches have worked. Why?
Video examples
Self Stabbing PIPE National...
against his chest it is the job of his keeper to restrain him all around him others take the same dead only rarely does the blade actually
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Bill Shuster
American Politician
Government spending is being restrained, the economy is making progress and moving forward, and the pro-growth, tax cutting policies put in place have allowed businesses to grow, which has brought in additional tax revenue to help pay off the debt.
Quote examples
Ryan Gosling
Canadian Actor
I try to play characters who are different from myself, so I feel like this character is someone who is really different. I actually think that if I did what he did in this movie, I would get a restraining order put against me.
Quote examples
Yi So-Yeon
South Korean Astronaut
I felt so free in space, flying around and unrestrained by any social relationships, but my life since has changed a lot. Now I am extra-careful about what I say and do because everyone recognises me.
Quote examples
William Barr
American Public Servant
Men are subject to powerful passions and appetites, and, if unrestrained, are capable of ruthlessly riding roughshod over their neighbors and the community at large.
Quote examples
Madame de Stael
French Writer
Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man's power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened.
Quote examples
William Sloane Coffin
American Clergyman
The cause of violence is not ignorance. It is self-interest. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.
Quote examples
Andre Gide
French Novelist
It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace.
Quote examples
Elvira Nabiullina
Russian Economist
A flexible exchange rate is important, and it shouldn't be artificially restrained because of the needs of the economy.
Quote examples
George Soros
Hungarian Businessman
Unrestrained competition can drive people into actions that they would otherwise regret.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
Honest criticism means nothing: what one wants is unrestrained passion, fire for fire.
Quote examples
Bill Shuster
American Politician
Government spending is being restrained, the economy is making progress and moving forward, and the pro-growth, tax cutting policies put in place have allowed businesses to grow, which has brought in additional tax revenue to help pay off the debt.
Quote examples
Ryan Gosling
Canadian Actor
I try to play characters who are different from myself, so I feel like this character is someone who is really different. I actually think that if I did what he did in this movie, I would get a restraining order put against me.
Quote examples
Yi So-Yeon
South Korean Astronaut
I felt so free in space, flying around and unrestrained by any social relationships, but my life since has changed a lot. Now I am extra-careful about what I say and do because everyone recognises me.
Quote examples
William Barr
American Public Servant
Men are subject to powerful passions and appetites, and, if unrestrained, are capable of ruthlessly riding roughshod over their neighbors and the community at large.
Quote examples
Madame de Stael
French Writer
Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man's power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened.
Quote examples
William Sloane Coffin
American Clergyman
The cause of violence is not ignorance. It is self-interest. Only reverance can restrain violence - reverance for human life and the environment.
Quote examples
Andre Gide
French Novelist
It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace.
Quote examples
Elvira Nabiullina
Russian Economist
A flexible exchange rate is important, and it shouldn't be artificially restrained because of the needs of the economy.
Quote examples
George Soros
Hungarian Businessman
Unrestrained competition can drive people into actions that they would otherwise regret.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
Honest criticism means nothing: what one wants is unrestrained passion, fire for fire.
Example 1 of 10
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