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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Restrain: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：control emotions (restrain)

restrain 🔊

/rɪˈstreɪn/

vt.

to control a strong emotion or impulse, stopping yourself from showing it or acting on it.

Restrain meaning illustrated: person controlling anger with deep breath and clenched fists.

control emotions 🔊

➕

/kənˈtroʊl ɪˈmoʊʃənz/

vt.

To prevent yourself from expressing strong feelings or acting on sudden desires.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 're-' (back) + 'stringere' (to bind), meaning to hold back or limit.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of RE-strain as putting a strain or limit on something to hold it back.

📖 Example

During the serious meeting, she had to restrain her laughter when her colleague made a funny face. 🔊 In a serious meeting, she controlled her urge to laugh when a colleague made a funny face.

🔗 Collocations

restrain oneself – to control one's own actions or emotions

restrain from – to prevent oneself from doing something

restrain impulses – to control sudden desires

🔄 Synonyms

suppress (vt.) – to prevent something from being expressed or revealed

curb (vt.) – to restrain or keep in check

control (vt.) – to manage or regulate emotions or actions

🚫 Antonyms

express (vt.) – to show or convey feelings openly

release (vt.) – to let go of emotions or constraints

🌱 Derivatives

restraint (n.) – the act of restraining or a measure that restricts

restrained (adj.) – showing self-control; not excessive

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'restringere' (to bind back). In modern English, it's commonly used in legal contexts, such as 'restraining orders' to prevent contact or harassment.

Meaning 2：physically hold back (restrain)

restrain 🔊

/rɪˈstreɪn/

vt.

to use physical force or a device to stop someone or something from moving or doing something.

Restrain definition: friend physically holding back another from stepping into traffic.

physically hold back 🔊

➕

/ˈfɪzɪkli hoʊld bæk/

vt.

To use force or a tool to stop someone or something from moving or acting.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The owner had to restrain his excited dog with a leash when it saw a squirrel. 🔊 The owner used a leash to hold back his excited dog from chasing a squirrel.

🔗 Collocations

restrain with – to use something to hold back

restrain physically – to use bodily force to stop

restrain by law – to limit through legal measures

🔄 Synonyms

constrain (vt.) – to force into a restricted position or action

hold back (phr. v.) – to prevent from moving forward

restrict (vt.) – to limit the movement or action of

🚫 Antonyms

free (vt.) – to release from restraint

liberate (vt.) – to set free from constraints

🌱 Derivatives

restraint (n.) – the act of restraining or a measure that restricts

restrained (adj.) – showing self-control; not excessive