verb
imprison
im-PRIZ-un/ɪmˈprɪzn/
To confine someone in prison or captivity.
The guard imprisons the person behind the barred door.
Etymology
The “taking” behind prison developed into captivity and then a place for captives. To imprison people is to put them into that condition of confinement.
In context
To release her was dangerous. To imprison her was diplomatically awkward. To execute her was unthinkable …
More examples
- The captors imprisoned the travelers in a locked room.
- She campaigns for people unjustly imprisoned.
- The ruler threatens to imprison anyone who resists.
Forms
imprison · imprisons · imprisoned · imprisoning
imprisonment noun — confinement in prison or captivity
Similar words
- confine
- Can restrict movement without a prison or captivity.
- incarcerate
- Incarcerate specifically places someone in custody or prison; imprison can also be used figuratively.