B2verbformallawcrime
US/ɪmˈprɪz.ən/
UK/ɪmˈprɪz.ən/
to put someone in prison or keep them in a place they cannot leave
In context
The government imprisoned hundreds of protesters without a trial.
He was imprisoned for ten years for stealing money from the bank.
She felt imprisoned in her small town and dreamed of leaving.
Words that go with imprison
verb + preposition
- imprison someone for lifeThe judge imprisoned him for life.
- imprison without trialThe law allows police to imprison people without trial.
adverb + verb
- wrongly imprisonHe was wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
- unjustly imprisonThey unjustly imprisoned the journalist.
verb + noun
- imprison a criminalThe court can imprison a criminal for up to five years.
- imprison political opponentsThe regime began to imprison political opponents.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
He was imprisoned in five years.Correct: He was imprisoned for five years.
Incorrect:
He imprisoned.Correct: He was imprisoned.