restraint

restraint — noun

1. the ability to stay calm and keep your emotions under control, especially when y

1.nounB2
Definition

the ability to stay calm and keep your emotions under control, especially when you feel angry, excited, or strongly tempted to act

Example

Megan showed remarkable restraint by not shouting back at the angry customer.

collocation: show restraint

The children were excited, but the teacher's gentle restraint kept the classroom calm.

Common collocations
  • show restraint
  • exercise restraint
  • great restraint
  • remarkable restraint
  • emotional restraint
Synonyms
  • self-control

    more general, refers to managing all impulses and desires, not just emotional reactions

  • composure

    focuses on staying calm under pressure, less about resisting temptation

  • moderation

    emphasises avoiding extremes, especially in consumption or indulgence

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

show + restraint

exercise + restraint

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. Often found with verbs like 'show', 'exercise', 'demonstrate', or 'display' — you do not 'have a restraint' in this sense.

Common Mistakes

She had no restraint from eating the cake.
She showed no restraint and ate the whole cake.
'restraint' is not followed by 'from + verb-ing'; use 'show restraint' or 'exercise restraint'.

2. any condition, rule, or external factor that stops people from acting freely or

2.nounB2
Definition

any condition, rule, or external factor that stops people from acting freely or slows the development or expansion of something

Example

Budget restraints forced the school to cancel the art programme this year.

collocation: budget restraints / legal restraints

The government placed new restraints on how companies can collect personal data.

preposition: restraints on [something]

Common collocations
  • budget restraints
  • legal restraints
  • trade restraints
  • place restraints on
  • restraints on spending
Synonyms
  • restriction

    more concrete and official — used for laws, rules, and formal limits

  • constraint

    suggests something that limits the range of possible actions, often from outside

  • limit

    simpler and more general; can refer to a boundary or maximum

Antonyms
  • freedom

    the ability to act without external limits

  • license

    freedom to do whatever one wants

Grammar Patterns

restraints on + noun

place restraints on + noun

Usage Note

Countable; very common in the plural 'restraints'. Often followed by the preposition 'on' (restraints on trade, restraints on spending).

Common Mistakes

The government lifted the restraint on imports.
The government lifted the restrictions on imports.
For official rules and regulations, 'restriction' is more natural than 'restraint'; 'restraint' often feels more abstract or moral.

3. physical force or special equipment such as straps or handcuffs used to stop som

3.nounB2
Definition

physical force or special equipment such as straps or handcuffs used to stop someone, especially a violent or confused person, from moving freely

Example

The nurse put soft restraints on the confused patient trying to climb out of bed.

collocation: put restraints on [person]

Police officers are trained to use physical restraint only when someone poses a danger.

passive: physical restraint is used

Common collocations
  • physical restraint
  • use restraints
  • put restraints on
  • soft restraints
  • padded restraints
Synonyms
  • straps

    specific type of physical restraint, made from strong fabric or leather

  • shackles

    stronger, more severe — usually metal and used for prisoners; has negative connotations

  • tether

    a rope or chain that limits the range of movement, often for animals

Grammar Patterns

use + restraints

put + restraints + on + person

physical + restraint

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific device ('restraints' in plural); uncountable when referring to the use of physical force. In medical settings, 'restraints' (plural) is the standard term for straps or safety belts.

Common Mistakes

The doctor used a restraint on the patient's leg.
The doctors used restraints on the patient's arms.
Physical restraints in healthcare are almost always referred to in the plural form 'restraints', even when describing one strap.

Word family

  • restrain
    verbB2
  • restrained
    adjectiveB2
  • unrestrained
    adjectiveC1
  • restraining
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Self-control is the broadest term, covering the general ability to manage your own emotions, desires, and impulses. Restraint (sense 1) is more specific — it suggests holding back a reaction or urge, especially in a social or emotional context. Composure focuses on staying calm and steady under stress, without the sense of resisting strong temptation. Moderation is about avoiding extremes, particularly in eating, drinking, or spending. Discipline implies training and consistent effort toward a goal, such as studying regularly. For example, you might show restraint by not laughing at an inappropriate moment, maintain composure during a job interview, practise moderation in your diet, and need discipline to exercise every morning.

self-control ↗composuremoderationdiscipline ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • place restraints on
  • without restraint
  • under restraint
  • with restraint

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'restraint' comes from the Old French 'restreinte', a noun form of 'restreindre' (to hold back). The French verb itself came from the Latin 'restringere', which combines 're-' meaning 'back' and 'stringere' meaning 'to draw tight' or 'to bind'. The original image was of pulling a rope tight to keep something from moving — a picture that still fits the modern physical sense (sense 3) as well as the broader idea of holding back or limiting.