imprison

[ im-priz-uhn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to confine in or as if in a prison.

   Synonyms: restrain, jail, incarcerate

imprison

/ ɪmˈprɪzən /

verb

1. tr to confine in or as if in prison

Derived Forms

• imˈprisoner, noun
• imˈprisonment, noun

Other Words From

• im·pris·on·a·ble adjective
• im·pris·on·er noun
• im·pris·on·ment noun
• re·im·pris·on verb (used with object)
• re·im·pris·on·ment noun
• un·im·pris·on·a·ble adjective
• un·im·pris·oned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprison¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English enprisonen, from Old French enprisoner, equivalent to en- en- ¹ + prison prison + -er infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

So although Trump pledged to his Madison Square Garden audience to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on his first day in office, the same act used to imprison Italian and German nationals during World War II, including refugees from the Holocaust . . . he might be kidding.

From Salon

Kamala Harris gave a speech outlining her version of this message on Tuesday, which went something like this: Donald Trump wants to be president so that he can order the military to imprison his enemies, whereas I want to be president to do normal Democratic president stuff.

From Slate

Some American journalists and politicians couched their desire to round up and imprison Japanese Americans in humanitarian terms: to protect them from potential mob violence.

From Los Angeles Times

In February 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the executive order that officials used to pull Japanese Americans from their homes, force them to sell their property, often at a significant loss, and imprison them in the camps for years without formal charges or trials.

From Los Angeles Times

The Republican furor at Zuck these days is at such a pitch that Trump even threatened to imprison the executive for life, and everyone knows at this point that is not a threat to take lightly should the man regain power.

From Slate

Related Words

• apprehend
• commit
• detain
• hold
• incarcerate
• jail
• lock up
• remand