YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

restraint

Noun

IPA /rɪˈstreɪnt/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Control over your feelings or actions, especially when you choose not to react strongly despite being angry, excited or tempted.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

restraint/rɪˈstreɪnt/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

You feel an urge to shout
You control your response

Restraint means holding back a strong reaction.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

He showed restraint and waited until he felt calm before replying.
The team leader exercised restraint when responding to the unfair criticism.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

He showed ________ and waited until he felt calm before replying.

Show the answer

restraint — Control over your feelings or actions, especially when you choose not to react strongly despite being angry, excited or tempted.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “restraint” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Control over your feelings or actions, especially when you choose not to react strongly despite being angry, excited or tempted.

Compare: He showed restraint and waited until he felt calm before replying.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Old French restreinte, from restreindre, meaning to restrain.

Did you know?

With restraint describes a controlled manner of acting or speaking.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.