CONSTRAIN
Dictionary entry overview: What does constrain mean?
• CONSTRAIN (verb)
The verb CONSTRAIN has 2 senses:
1. hold back
2. restrict
Familiarity information: CONSTRAIN used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• CONSTRAIN (verb)
Meaning:
Hold back
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
constrain; cumber; encumber; restrain
Hypernyms (to "constrain" is one way to...):
bound; confine; limit; restrain; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or access))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "constrain"):
bridle (put a bridle on)
curb (keep to the curb)
clog (impede the motion of, as with a chain or a burden)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Restrict
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
tighten up; constrain; stiffen; tighten
Context examples:
Tighten the rules / stiffen the regulations
Hypernyms (to "constrain" is one way to...):
bound; confine; limit; restrain; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or access))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
