Word
imprison
Meanings
to put someone in prison and keep them there as a punishment or by official order
to confine someone so they cannot leave or act freely, even without a literal prison
Definition
To imprison someone means to put them in prison and keep them there as a punishment or to stop them from leaving.
To imprison is to confine a person in prison, usually because they have been convicted of a crime or are being held by authorities. It emphasizes the act of taking away someone’s freedom of movement and keeping them locked up. In wider use, it can also describe keeping someone confined under strict control, even without a formal prison.
Examples
- The regime continued to imprison journalists who refused to reveal their sources.
- I was shocked to learn that they could imprison someone for such a minor act of protest.
- After the trial, the court chose to imprison him rather than impose another suspended sentence.
- Local officials threatened to imprison her if she returned to the restricted area.
- If authorities imprison them without evidence, public trust erodes rapidly.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "imprison" with "prosecute"—"imprison" means to put someone in prison, not merely to take them to court.
More at C1 level
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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.