confine

verb
UK: /kənˈfaɪn/
US: /kənˈfaɪn/

  1. To keep someone or something within certain limits of space or area.

    1. I confine my cat inside at night to protect it from foxes.
    2. The rising floodwaters may confine residents to their homes until the storm passes.

  2. To restrict someone or something, limiting freedom of action or thought.

    1. Please confine your comments to the topic under discussion.
    2. Let's not confine ourselves to traditional methods; new approaches might be better.

  3. To put someone in a place that they cannot leave; imprison.

    1. He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.
    2. After the riot, the prisoners were confined to their cells as punishment.

Synonyms

restrict curtail trap limit restrain enclose imprison
confine noun

  1. A limit or boundary; something that restricts freedom of movement or action.

    1. The library has no confines.
    2. Working from home blurred the confines between work and personal life.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "confine" in English means: To keep someone or something within certain limits of space or area., To restrict someone or something, limiting freedom of action or thought., To put someone in a place that they cannot leave; imprison..

The phonetic transcription of "confine" is /kənˈfaɪn/ in British English and /kənˈfaɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "confine": restrict, curtail, trap, limit, restrain, enclose, imprison.

Example usage of "confine": "I confine my cat inside at night to protect it from foxes.". More examples on the page.