behind bars

VERB

serving jail time

Synonyms

WEAK

confined imprisoned in jail in prison incarcerated jailed put away serving time under lock and key

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She said she felt "numb and shocked" when the letters started appearing and that he was still trying to "manipulate" her from behind bars.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

This explains why roughly 1,200 prisoners of conscience, including some 700 arrested for participating in islandwide protests against the dictatorship on July 11, 2021, remain behind bars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Kornev’s tragedy is that, while he may not be behind bars, he can’t see the prison he’s trapped in.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Ryan was tried alongside Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mamedli, who was convicted of high treason and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

"No! She's not one bit bad. Some liar accused her of stealing a necklace, and they slammed her behind bars and didn't even try to prove she'd committed a crime."

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman