# confine

/kənˈfaɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confine
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to restrict to an area

verb · CEFR B2

to keep a person or animal in a small or closed space.

For teachers: to restrict someone or something within a particular physical area or space. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The dog was confined to the backyard while the guests were inside.
- During the outbreak, the patients were confined to a specialized ward to prevent the virus from spreading to the rest of the hospital.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice with the preposition 'to'.

### 2. to limit a topic or activity

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to stay within a certain limit or topic and not go beyond it.

For teachers: to restrict a discussion, activity, or problem to a specific scope or subject.

- Please confine your comments to the topic we are discussing today.
- The researcher decided to confine the study to urban populations, excluding rural data to maintain a tighter focus on city infrastructure.

Usage: Commonly used with the reflexive pronoun (e.g., 'confine oneself to').

### 3. boundaries or limits

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

the outer limits or borders of a place.

For teachers: the borders or boundaries of a specific area or the limits of a conceptual space.

- It was difficult to stay happy within the narrow confines of the small office.
- The artist felt that her creativity was being stifled within the rigid confines of traditional academic painting.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'confines'.

## Examples

- Please confine your comments to the current topic.
- The doctor advised the patient to stay in bed and confine his movements to the house until the fever broke.
- The legal debate was confined to the interpretation of a single clause in the contract, effectively ignoring the broader ethical implications of the company's actions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.