CONFINING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does confining mean? 

• CONFINING (adjective)
  The adjective CONFINING has 2 senses:

1. restricting the scope or freedom of action

2. crowded

  Familiarity information: CONFINING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONFINING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Restricting the scope or freedom of action

Synonyms:

confining; constraining; constrictive; limiting; restricting

Similar:

restrictive (serving to restrict)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Crowded

Synonyms:

close; confining

Context example:

close quarters

Similar:

confined (not free to move about)

 Context examples 

The depravity of the human heart is such— “You will oblige me, ma'am,” interrupted Mr. Spenlow, “by confining yourself to facts.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The remainder of the dinner passed like a funeral, the judge and Mr. Morse confining their talk to each other, and the rest of the conversation being extremely desultory.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The A-kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) are a group of structurally diverse proteins, which have the common function of binding to the regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) and confining the holoenzyme to discrete locations within the cell.

(A Kinase Anchor Protein 12, NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)

James, who was now in constant attendance, maintained a similar position, and separating themselves from the rest of their party, they walked in that manner for some time, till Catherine began to doubt the happiness of a situation which, confining her entirely to her friend and brother, gave her very little share in the notice of either.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I'm sure last winter (it was a very severe one, if you recollect, and when it did not snow, it rained and blew), not a creature but the butcher and postman came to the house, from November till February; and I really got quite melancholy with sitting night after night alone; I had Leah in to read to me sometimes; but I don't think the poor girl liked the task much: she felt it confining.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The A-kinase anchor proteins (AKAPs) are a group of structurally diverse proteins which have the common function of binding to the regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) and confining the holoenzyme to discrete locations within the cell.

(A Kinase Anchor Protein 9, NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)

You have erred, perhaps, he observed, taking up a glowing cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a disputatious rather than a meditative mood—you have erred perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is really the only notable feature about the thing.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"But it wasn't true, not a word of what he wrote," Martin went on, confining his attention to Brissenden.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)