imprison

verb

im·​pris·​on im-ˈpri-zᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning; imprisons
Synonyms of imprisonnext

transitive verb

: to put in or as if in prison : confine
imprisonment
im-ˈpri-zᵊn-mənt How to pronounce imprison (audio)
noun

Synonyms of imprison

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Examples of imprison in a Sentence

He was imprisoned for murder. He has threatened to imprison his political opponents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Watson was imprisoned in Greenland for five months in 2024 after being arrested on a Japanese warrant over charges of obstructing a whaling ship in 2010. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 Liz Mitchell, the spokesperson, said in a statement that the board voted 3-0 to deny Grayson’s application, keeping him imprisoned. — Ava Kelley, NBC news, 31 July 2026 Future plots to imprison a critic of the MAGA movement might not be undermined by a loudmouth president who can’t help but give away the scheme. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The fact is, no one is imprisoned for their political beliefs—for example, those who used a drone to [try to] assassinate the president. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for imprison

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French emprisoner, from en- + prison prison

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imprison was in the 14th century

Rhymes for imprison

See All Rhymes for imprison

Browse Nearby Words

imprinting
imprison
imprisonable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imprison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprison. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

imprison

verb
im·​pris·​on im-ˈpriz-ᵊn How to pronounce imprison (audio)
imprisoned; imprisoning
-ˈpriz-(ə-)niŋ
: to put in or as if in prison
imprisonment
-ˈpriz-ən-mənt How to pronounce imprison (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

imprison

transitive verb
im·​pris·​on
: to confine in prison especially as punishment for a crime compare false imprisonment
imprisonment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on imprison

Nglish: Translation of imprison for Spanish Speakers

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