1. To resist or hold back from doing something. A noun or pronoun is used between "restrain" and "from." I restrained from making snide remarks as he plodded through his utterly inept presentation. It can be hard for parents to restrain from doing everything for their children, but you've got to let them figure out how to function on their own.

2. To prevent or hold someone back from doing something. A noun or pronoun is used between "restrain" and "from." We restrained her from making any further comments during the press conference. The federal court is restraining the company from manufacturing the controversial product until its safety could be verified without a shadow of a doubt.