Detain and Keep

Similar meaning words

Detain verb - Cause to be slowed down or delayed.

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Keep is a synonym for detain in delay topic. In some cases you can use "Keep" instead a verb "Detain", when it comes to topics like hold, hold back.

Nearby Words: detention, detainer, detaining

Keep verb - To continue to have in one's possession or power.

Usage example: keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone

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Detain is a synonym for keep in hold topic. You can use "Detain" instead a verb "Keep", if it concerns topics such as delay, hold back, prevent.

Nearby Words: keeping, keeper

people	detain people	keep people
watch	detain watch	keep watch
characters	detain characters	keep characters
anyone	detain anyone	keep anyone
Other words: everyone, daughter, kids.

He Who Fights Monsters: While the pair started with somewhat noble goals, it becomes clear that they're now as bad as the people they sought to detain and keep in check.

Source: Machinima / Yogscast Minecraft Series
In the season 4 finale of Supernatural, Zachariah and the other angels detain Dean in one of these to keep him from getting himself killed since he's one of the only people suitable to host the Archangel Michael and to prevent him from stopping Lucifer's escape.

Source: Gilded Cage
You can deny him and give him back the money and the watch... or detain him and keep the watch and money for yourself.

Source: Video Game / Papers, Please

Cite this Source

Keep and Detain. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/keep

Detain & Keep. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/keep>.

Keep or Detain. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/keep.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "detain" and "keep" have occurred on timeline