From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrestrainre‧strain /rɪˈstreɪn/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] 1 PREVENTto stop someone from doing something, often by using physical forcerestrain somebody from doing something I had to restrain her from running out into the street. He had to be restrained from using violence.2 to control your own emotions or behaviour Renwick restrained a feeling of annoyance.restrain yourself (from doing something) She could barely restrain herself from hitting him.3 CONTROLto control or limit something that is increasing too much Price rises should restrain consumer spending.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
restrain• Malone had to be restrained by players and his own officials in the row that ensued.• His arm was hurting him and he had to be restrained from doing too much.• Mary got up to go after them, but I put out my arm to restrain her.• She wanted to ask him all about his private life, but wisely restrained herself.• It took three men to restrain him.• Roger stepped forward and Martin put out his arm to restrain him.• The economy's growth will slow down enough to restrain inflation.• It took four officers to restrain Wilson before he could be handcuffed.• Back to hospital and you must restrain yourself, old boy, nudge wink.restrain yourself (from doing something)• I wanted to go to her, but I restrained myself.• Now, as he regarded the principal, stripped of his power, my father could not restrain himself any longer.• He is very open, not nearly as controlled as Lucy Snowe, who restrains herself constantly.• I've been restraining myself for six and a half years!• Alan restrained himself from demanding what was wrong.• He restrained himself from going back to see.• In an effort to restrain himself, he tried to imagine things in the worst possible light.• Back to hospital and you must restrain yourself, old boy, nudge wink.From Longman Business Dictionaryrestrainre‧strain /rɪˈstreɪn/ verb [transitive] to control or limit something that is starting to increasetough rules to restrain the creation of monopoliesA cut in consumer credit would restrain an economic recovery.→ See Verb tableOrigin restrain (1300-1400) Old French restreindre, from Latin restringere, from stringere; → STRINGENT 