# detain

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #22,056

## Definitions
1. To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
2. To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
3. To keep back or from; to withhold.
4. To put someone under custody.
5. To seize goods for official purposes.

## Etymology
From Old French detenir. Cognate with Italian detenere, Portuguese deter, Romanian deține, and Spanish detener.

## Easily confused with
- **drain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-drain)
- **Devin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-devin)
- **domain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-domain)
- **Devlin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-devlin)
- **detained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-detained)
- **detainee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detain-vs-detainee)
- **dean** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dean-vs-detain)
- **Desai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desai-vs-detain)
- **detail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detail-vs-detain)
- **derail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-detain)
- **detach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detach-vs-detain)
- **Deakin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deakin-vs-detain)
- **details** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/details-vs-detain)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddetain`, `deatin`, `detainn`, `detani`, `detian`, `dettain`, `dteain`, `edtain`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/detain