confine meaning and examples thumbnail

confine meaning and examples

2025-08-31

Meaning

Confine means to keep someone or something within limits, boundaries, or restrictions. It can refer to physical spaces (such as being confined in a room) or abstract limits (such as confining a discussion to one topic).

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Verb (transitive)

  • Common patterns:

    • confine sb/sth to sth → restrict to a certain area or subject.
    • be confined to → limited to or kept in a place/condition.

  • Often used in both literal and figurative senses.

Common Phrases

  • confined to bed
  • confine sb to prison
  • confine discussion to one issue
  • confined space

Collocations

  • Verb + Noun: confine a prisoner, confine discussion, confine attention
  • Adjective + Noun: confined space, confined area
  • Be + Confined: be confined to bed, be confined to a wheelchair

Examples

  1. The patient was confined to bed for two weeks after surgery.
  2. Please confine your remarks to the subject at hand.
  3. He was confined to a small cell for many years.
  4. The research is confined to urban areas only.
  5. The storm confined us indoors all weekend.
  6. She felt confined by the strict rules of the community.
  7. The project is confined to the marketing department.
  8. Prisoners are confined within the walls of the prison.
  • Restrict
  • Limit
  • Restrain
  • Imprison
  • Enclose