Library / English Dictionary

CONSTRAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Severely restrict in scope or extent

Example:

stiffen the regulations

Synonyms:

constrain; stiffen; tighten; tighten up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "constrain" is one way to...):

bound; confine; limit; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or amount or access))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

To close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement

Example:

The terrorists held the journalists for ransom

Synonyms:

confine; constrain; hold; restrain

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "constrain" is one way to...):

disable; disenable; incapacitate (make unable to perform a certain action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "constrain"):

bind; tie down; tie up; truss (secure with or as if with ropes)

fetter; shackle (restrain with fetters)

enchain (restrain or bind with chains)

pinion; shackle (bind the arms of)

impound; pound (place or shut up in a pound)

pound; pound up (shut up or confine in any enclosure or within any bounds or limits)

fold; pen up (confine in a fold, like sheep)

ground (confine or restrict to the ground)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Compel to behave in a certain way

Example:

duty constrains one to act often contrary to one's desires or inclinations

Synonyms:

constrain; enforce; impose

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "constrain" is one way to...):

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

“Won't you?” said he, constrained by the pain of his cheek to put his hand there.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

To-night, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all the signs of an internal struggle.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

For the world would she not have her weakness suspected, and yet, unequal to an absolute falsehood, was constrained to acknowledge that the wind had kept her awake a little.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The “How d'ye do's” were quiet and constrained on each side.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She was tranquil, yet her tranquillity was evidently constrained; and as her confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guilt, she worked up her mind to an appearance of courage.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Monitoring Io's surface annually will reveal the style of volcanic eruptions there, constrain the magma composition, and accurately map the spatial distribution of the heat flow and potential variations over time.

(A Hellacious Two Weeks on Jupiter's Moon Io, NASA)

However, the biogeochemical cycle of barium, which is closely related to the carbon cycle, is not well constrained, being a mystery how barium precipitates in ocean waters.

(Researchers discover the oceanic precipitation mechanism for barium, which is a proxy for marine bacterial productivity, University of Granada)

He had vanity, which strongly inclined him in the first place to think she did love him, though she might not know it herself; and which, secondly, when constrained at last to admit that she did know her own present feelings, convinced him that he should be able in time to make those feelings what he wished.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Sir Nigel Loring and Sir Oliver Buttesthorn at once hung their shields over the side, and displayed their pennons as was the custom, noting with the keenest interest the answering symbols which told the names of the cavaliers who had been constrained by ill health or wounds to leave the prince at so critical a time.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At length Darcy spoke, and in a constrained manner said, Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends—whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)