# imprison

/ˌɪmˈpɹɪzən/ (US) · /ɪmpɹˈɪzən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/imprison
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to put someone in a place they cannot leave, like a jail or a locked room. It means taking away someone's freedom.

For teachers: to confine a person in a prison or a place of restricted movement. Transitive; implies a formal or forceful deprivation of liberty.

## Examples

- The judge decided to imprison the thief for two years.
- The government chose to imprison the political activists without a trial during the national emergency.
- Historians argue that the decision to imprison the former monarch only served to galvanize the resistance and accelerate the eventual revolution.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was imprisoned to five years." but "He was imprisoned for five years." — Imprison describes the act of confinement; use 'for' to indicate the duration of the sentence.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a person or group.

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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.