Detain

To hold someone back so they cannot leave, often by the police or other authorities. It means keeping someone in one place for a while because they need to answer questions or follow rules.

Examples

• The principal had to detain a few students after school because they were caught playing pranks in the hallways instead of following the rules.
• During the science project presentation, the teacher decided to detain the group for a few extra minutes to discuss how they could improve their teamwork skills.
• When the soccer game was interrupted by a sudden rainstorm, the referee had to detain the players on the field until it was safe to continue playing.

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Antonyms