GRE TOEFL detain Definition To keep someone from proceeding; to hold in custody. Example "The police detained the suspect for questioning." Sign in to save GRE PDF — $25 TOEFL PDF — $25 ← detachment detect → Study tips featuring "detain" TOEFL Academic Vocabulary: Study by Topic Related words GRE awe GRE smithereens GRE abacus SAT abase GRE abash GRE abate GRE abbreviate GRE abbreviation SAT abdicate SAT abdomen GRE abduct GRE aberrant