detain

S2 W2

BrE /dɪˈteɪn/ AmE /dɪˈteɪn/

verb en → es

past detained pp detained ing detaining

1 ARREST/DELAY [transitive] B1

to keep someone in a police station or other place because they are suspected of committing a crime, or to delay someone's progress or movement

detener, retrasar, impedir

  • take sb into custody
  • delay the progress of sth

Collocations police detain a suspect · detain someone for questioning

  • The police detained him at the airport.

    La policía lo detuvo en el aeropuerto.

2 DELAY [transitive] B1

to delay or prevent someone from doing something they want to do

retrasar, impedir, obstaculizar

  • detain sb from doing sth

Collocations detained by traffic · detained by work

  • She was detained by a phone call.

    Ella fue retenida por una llamada telefónica.

Phrasal verbs

detain sb from doing sth DELAY B2

impedir a alguien hacer algo

  • He was detained from leaving by the customs officials.

    Fue impedido de salir por los oficiales aduaneros.

detain sb for questioning ARREST/DELAY B2

retener a alguien para interrogarlo

  • The police detained him for questioning.

    La policía lo detuvo para interrogarlo.