restrain

5 definitions • 10 examples

to control the actions or behaviour of someone by force, especially in order to stop them from doing something, or to limit the growth or force of something:

When he started fighting, it took four police officers to restrain him.

She was so angry that she could hardly restrain herself.

You should try to restrain your ambitions and be more realistic.

Growth in car ownership could be restrained by increasing taxes.

to control the actions or behavior of someone by force, esp. in order to stop that person from doing something:

Seamons got into a shouting match and had to be restrained by his teammates.

I could hardly restrain my laughter.

To restrain is also to limit the growth or force of something:

Politicians are reluctant to restrain spending.

to limit the growth or force of something:

The economy had rebounded a bit but was still being restrained by high oil prices.

Higher interest rates appear to be restraining consumer spending.

to control someone's actions or behaviour, especially by stopping them from doing something:

Economists said consumers are still showing few signs of being restrained by interest rate rises.