Bind vs. Restrain — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 28, 2023
To bind is to tie or secure tightly, often implying a lasting or permanent condition, while to restrain is to hold back, control, or limit, usually implying a temporary condition.
Difference Between Bind and Restrain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The word "bind" is generally used to describe the act of tying or securing something so tightly that it’s difficult to become free. This word often implies a lasting or permanent condition, where the object or person is secured by a binding element, like a rope or a contractual agreement. Conversely, "restrain" typically refers to the act of controlling, limiting, or holding something back, which usually implies a temporary condition where freedom of movement or action is restricted, but not permanently so.
While to bind something usually involves tying or fastening it securely, implying a sense of permanence and security, to restrain entails holding back or limiting freedom, often implying temporariness and the potential for release. For instance, a legal contract might bind someone to certain obligations, creating a lasting commitment, while seatbelts restrain passengers, holding them securely but allowing release when necessary.
Binding can also refer to the process of creating a book by assembling and securing the pages within a cover, reflecting a more permanent and finished state. In contrast, restraining can imply preventing an action or response, such as restraining one’s anger, symbolizing control and limitation but not necessarily a lasting state. It’s about keeping something under control rather than securing it permanently.
In legal terms, binding has a sense of permanence and obligation, where one is bound by law or contract to adhere to certain conditions or fulfill certain duties. Restrain, in legal contexts, is often associated with restraining orders, which limit a person’s actions or movements temporarily to prevent harm or harassment but do not permanently bind them to such conditions.
In summary, to bind is to secure tightly, often implying a permanent or lasting condition, such as being bound by a contract or binding a book, while to restrain is to control, limit, or hold back, usually implying a temporary condition, such as restraining one's anger or being restrained by a seatbelt.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
To tie or secure tightly, often implying permanence.
To control, limit, or hold back, usually implying temporariness.
Implied Duration
Generally implies a lasting or permanent condition.
Typically implies a temporary condition.
Usage Contexts
Often used in contexts like binding agreements or bookbinding.
Commonly used in contexts like restraining orders or holding back emotions.
Level of Restriction
Implies a secure and tight restriction, often difficult to break free from.
Implies a controllable and limitable restriction, potentially allowing for release.
Application Examples
Assembling and securing the pages within a book cover.
Preventing an action or response, such as anger.
Compare with Definitions
Bind
To tie or secure something tightly.
She used a rope to bind the logs together.
Restrain
To hold back or limit from action, motion, or expression.
He had to restrain his impulse to argue.
Bind
To obligate or commit legally or morally.
The contract binds him to complete the project on time.
Restrain
To deprive of liberty or freedom of movement.
The police restrained the suspect with handcuffs.
Bind
To cause discomfort or constraint.
Tight shoes can bind the feet and cause pain.
Restrain
To limit or restrict to certain parameters.
They passed laws to restrain trade practices.
Bind
To tie or secure, as with a rope or cord.
Restrain
To control or govern one's impulses or emotions.
She could not restrain her laughter at the joke.
Bind
To hold or restrain by tying with rope or bonds
Bound the prisoner.
Restrain
To keep under control or within limits.
The teacher had to restrain the overly excited children.
Bind
To fasten or wrap by encircling, as with a belt or ribbon
A dress bound with a sash.
Restrain
To hold back or keep in check; control
Was able restrain his emotions.
Bind
To bandage
Bound up their wounds.
Restrain
To prevent (a person or group) from doing something or acting in a certain way
She was restrained from selling the house by her fond memories.
Bind
To compel, constrain, or unite
Bound by a deep sense of duty.
Bound by a common interest in sports.
Restrain
To hold, fasten, or secure so as to prevent or limit movement
Hair restrained by a bandana.
A child restrained by a seat belt.
Bind
To make certain or irrevocable
Bind the deal with a down payment.
Restrain
(transitive) To control or keep in check.
Bind
(Law) To place under legal obligation.
Restrain
(transitive) To deprive of liberty.
Bind
To apprentice or indenture
Was bound out as a servant.
Restrain
(transitive) To restrict or limit.
He was restrained by the straitjacket.
Bind
(Chemistry) To combine with, form a chemical bond with, or be taken up by, as an enzyme with its substrate.
Restrain
(transitive) To strain again.
Bind
To cause to cohere or stick together in a mass
Bind the dry ingredients with milk and eggs.
Restrain
To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb.
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that natureGives way to in repose!
Bind
To constipate.
Restrain
To draw back toghtly, as a rein.
Bind
To enclose and fasten (the pages of a book or other printed material) between covers.
Restrain
To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge.
Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty.
Bind
To furnish with an edge or border for protection, reinforcement, or ornamentation.
Restrain
To limit; to confine; to restrict.
Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate.
Bind
To tie up or fasten something.
Restrain
To withhold; to forbear.
Thou restrained prayer before God.
Bind
To stick or become stuck
Applied a lubricant to keep the moving parts from binding.
Restrain
Keep under control; keep in check;
Suppress a smile
Keep your temper
Keep your cool
Bind
To be uncomfortably tight or restricting, as clothes.
Restrain
Place limits on (extent or access);
Restrict the use of this parking lot
Limit the time you can spend with your friends
Bind
To become compact or solid; cohere.
Restrain
To close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement;
This holds the local until the express passengers change trains
About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade
The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center
The terrorists held the journalists for ransom
Bind
To be compelling, constraining, or unifying
Moved to her home town because of the ties that bind.
Restrain
Hold back
Bind
(Chemistry) To combine chemically or form a chemical bond.
Restrain
To compel or deter by or as if by threats
Bind
The act of binding.
Bind
The state of being bound.
Bind
Something that binds.
Bind
A place where something binds
A bind halfway up the seam of the skirt.
Bind
(Informal) A difficult, restrictive, or unresolvable situation
Found themselves in a bind when their car broke down.
Bind
(Music) A tie, slur, or brace.
Bind
(intransitive) To tie; to confine by any ligature.
Bind
(intransitive) To cohere or stick together in a mass.
Just to make the cheese more binding
Bind
(intransitive) To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.
I wish I knew why the sewing machine binds up after I use it for a while.
Bind
(intransitive) To exert a binding or restraining influence.
These are the ties that bind.
Bind
(transitive) To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.
To bind grain in bundles
To bind a prisoner
Bind
(transitive) To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind.
Gravity binds the planets to the sun.
Frost binds the earth.
Bind
(transitive) To couple.
Bind
(figuratively) To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other social tie.
To bind the conscience
To bind by kindness
Bound by affection
Commerce binds nations to each other
Bind
(law) To put (a person) under definite legal obligations, especially, under the obligation of a bond or covenant.
Bind
(law) To place under legal obligation to serve.
To bind an apprentice
Bound out to service
Bind
(transitive) To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.
Bind
To make fast (a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something.
To bind a belt about one
To bind a compress upon a wound
Bind
(transitive) To cover, as with a bandage.
To bind up a wound
Bind
To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action, as by producing constipation.
Certain drugs bind the bowels.
Bind
(transitive) To put together in a cover, as of books.
The three novels were bound together.
Bind
To make two or more elements stick together.
Bind
To associate an identifier with a value; to associate a variable name, method name, etc. with the content of a storage location.
Bind
To process one or more object modules into an executable program.
Bind
To complain; to whine about something.
Bind
To wear a binder so as to flatten one's chest to give the appearance of a flat chest, usually done by trans men.
I haven't binded since I got my top surgery.
I hear binder tech has improved since I last bound.
Bind
That which binds or ties.
Bind
A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.
Bind
Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine; a bine.
Bind
(music) A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
Bind
(chess) A strong grip or stranglehold on a position, which is difficult for the opponent to break.
The Maróczy Bind
Bind
The indurated clay of coal mines.
Bind
To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner.
Bind
To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing.
Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years.
Bind
To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; - sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.
Bind
To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to bind a compress upon a part.
Bind
To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as, certain drugs bind the bowels.
Bind
To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.
Bind
To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a book.
Bind
Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other.
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.
Bind
To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp. under the obligation of a bond or covenant.
Bind
To tie; to confine by any ligature.
They that reap must sheaf and bind.
Bind
To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat.
Bind
To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.
Bind
To exert a binding or restraining influence.
Bind
That which binds or ties.
Bind
Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a bine.
Bind
Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron.
Bind
A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
Bind
Something that hinders as if with bonds
Bind
Stick to firmly;
Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?
Bind
Create social or emotional ties;
The grandparents want to bond with the child
Bind
Make fast; tie or secure, with or as if with a rope;
The Chinese would bind the feet of their women
Bind
Wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose
Bind
Secure with or as if with ropes;
Tie down the prisoners
Tie up the old newspapes and bring them to the recycling shed
Bind
Bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted;
He's held by a contract
I'll hold you by your promise
Bind
Form a chemical bond with;
The hydrogen binds the oxygen
Bind
Provide with a binding;
Bind the books in leather
Bind
Fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord;
They tied their victim to the chair
Bind
Cause to be constipated;
These foods tend to constipate you
Bind
To unite people in a close relationship or common bond.
Shared experiences can bind individuals together.
Bind
The process of assembling the pages of a book within a cover.
The publisher opted for a hardcover bind for the first edition.
Common Curiosities
Can binding refer to a moral or legal obligation?
Yes, bind can refer to being legally or morally obligated or committed to certain duties or actions.
How is restraining different from binding?
Restraining involves controlling, limiting, or holding back, usually implying a temporary condition, while binding implies securing tightly with a sense of permanence.
Is restraining usually temporary?
Yes, restraining typically implies a temporary condition, holding back or limiting freedom or action for a limited time.
Can restrain also refer to depriving someone of their freedom of movement?
Yes, restrain can mean to deprive someone of liberty or freedom of movement, like using handcuffs.
Can restrain mean to control one's emotions or impulses?
Yes, to restrain can mean to control or govern one's impulses or emotions.
Can binding unite people in a close relationship?
Yes, binding can unite people in a close relationship or common bond, like shared experiences.
Is a bind often difficult to break free from?
Yes, a bind typically implies a tight and secure restriction, often difficult to break free from.
Can bind also refer to causing discomfort or constraint?
Yes, bind can refer to something causing discomfort or being constrained, like tight shoes binding the feet.
What does it mean to bind something?
To bind means to tie, secure, or fasten something tightly, often implying a permanent or lasting condition.
Can restrain be used to refer to keeping something within limits?
Yes, to restrain can mean to keep something under control or within certain limits.
Can a bookbinding be referred to as a bind?
Yes, the process of assembling and securing the pages of a book within a cover is called a bind.
Is restraint often used to prevent harm or harassment in legal contexts?
Yes, restrain is often used in legal contexts like restraining orders to prevent harm or harassment by limiting a person’s actions or movements.
Can bind also refer to the action of creating a book by assembling and securing pages within a cover?
Yes, bind can refer to the process of creating a book by assembling and securing the pages within a cover.
Can restraint imply a potential for release?
Yes, restraining usually implies a potential for release, as it often entails temporary and controllable restriction.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
