Word
confine
Meanings
to keep a person or animal in a limited space; to imprison or restrain
to limit something such as a discussion, activity, or effect to a particular subject, area, or time
Definition
To confine someone or something means to keep them within strict limits or a restricted place.
To confine means to restrict movement, space, or freedom so that someone or something cannot go beyond certain boundaries. It can describe physically keeping a person or animal in a limited area, or limiting a discussion, activity, or effect to a particular scope. The idea is always about setting firm limits and not allowing expansion beyond them.
Examples
- The chair asked the panel to confine their remarks to the evidence presented in the report.
- Because the roads were flooded, I had to confine my travel to the city center for the entire weekend.
- The museum will confine visitors to one wing while the other galleries are renovated.
- After the disturbance, the guards chose to confine him to a separate room until things calmed down.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse confine with define, but confine means to restrict or keep within limits, not to explain a meaning.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.