What is the meaning and sentence of detain?
Asked by: Theron Kreiger | Last update: May 24, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (19 votes)
To detain means to officially hold someone in custody or delay them from leaving, often for questioning or legal reasons, as in "Police detained the suspect" or "I was detained by a long meeting". It signifies a temporary restriction of freedom, either by authorities or circumstance, with examples ranging from arrests to being held up by traffic.
What is the meaning of detain in a sentence?
/dɪˈteɪn/ /dɪˈteɪn/ Other forms: detained; detaining; detains. When you detain someone, you hold them back, slow them down, or stop them from moving on. If you are detained by the police, you may be late for the big football game, even if you were speeding to get there by the kickoff.
What does "detained" mean?
to force someone officially to stay in a place: A suspect is being detained by the police for further questioning. To detain someone is also to delay that person for a short period of time: We were detained in traffic and arrived at the theater a little late.
What does detian mean?
To detain means to hold someone back from proceeding or to limit their freedom of movement. In the context of criminal law, it refers to the act of holding a person in custody, typically for questioning. Law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion of illegal activity to justify detaining an individual.
How long can someone be legally detained?
Penal Code § 825). This “48-hour rule” means that within two days, you must either be charged with a crime or let go. However, there are a few exceptions that may allow the police to hold you for more than 48 hours, such as if you're arrested on a warrant from another county or if a judge grants a special extension.
🔵 Detain Meaning - Detain vs Arrest Defined - Detention Examples - Legal - Detention Arrest Detain
Is being detained the same as being in jail?
- Being "detained" means that a person is temporarily stopped or held by law enforcement for investigative purposes, but they are not necessarily under arrest or in custody.
Can you walk away from being detained?
If the officer says that you are not being detained or you are free to leave, then you can walk away calmly. An arrest requires probable cause and occurs when a person is taken into custody by law enforcement officers. Law enforcement agents do not need a judge-signed warrant to arrest someone in public.
What rights do you have if detained?
What to do if you are arrested or detained
- Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. ...
- If you have been arrested by police, you have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.
What does it mean if you have been detained?
What Does It Mean to Be Detained? Detention occurs when police, through physical or psychological restraint, prevent you from leaving. You may be told you're not free to go, or the situation may make you reasonably believe you cannot walk away.
Does detain mean jail?
In California, detention is a temporary holding of someone based on a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, while arrest requires probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.
What are 5 sentences examples?
Simple sentences in the Present Simple Tense
- I'm happy.
- She exercises every morning.
- His dog barks loudly.
- My school starts at 8:00.
- We always eat dinner together.
- They take the bus to work.
- He doesn't like vegetables.
- I don't want anything to drink.
What do you call a person who is detained?
Legally, anyone who is being temporarily held or detained until they can be tried in a court is also called a detainee. An inmate or prisoner, on the other hand, has been convicted and imprisoned as part of a legal sentence. Detainee and detain come from the Latin root detinere, "to hold off or hold back."
What is an example of detain?
Examples of detain in a Sentence
They were detained by the police for questioning. He claimed he had been illegally detained. Unexpected business had detained her.
Who has the power to detain?
Police in the United States, under Supreme Court precedent in Terry v. Ohio, may temporarily detain an individual if there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is armed, engaged in, or about to be engaged in criminal conduct.
What is the opposite of detain?
Antonyms. free liberate. STRONG. advance aid allow assist facilitate forward give help let go offer permit push release.
How long can I legally be detained?
Detention. Most detentions are brief, lasting only as long as it takes to resolve the officer's suspicions. However, under California law, you can't be held for more than 48 hours without being formally charged or released.
Can you be handcuffed if detained?
An officer might place you in handcuffs while you are detained and then remove the handcuffs later. It is also possible to be arrested without being placed in handcuffs. If you are under arrest the officer will clearly tell you and will read you your rights, also called Miranda warning.
Can a cop detain me without telling me why?
A legal detention must be based on reasonable suspicion while an unlawful holding is without justification. If you're being detained with no valid reason you may be having your rights infringed upon.
What is the longest you can be detained?
It does vary but 24 hours is generally the limit if they don't charge you. But first there is a distinction, they can arrest you for a crime and they need to get you in front of a judge at the next opportunity, usually next business day. Then it's up to the judge to decide bail.
Is detaining the same as arresting?
In California, a detention is a temporary stop by police to investigate a suspicion of criminal activity. At the same time, an arrest is a more formal action where someone is taken into custody due to probable cause, believing they have committed a crime.