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.

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

Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, the officer who led the investigation, said he was glad Milne was "behind bars, where he should be."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 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

"We have a history of brilliant law enforcement cooperation to put the criminal smuggling gangs where they belong – behind bars," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

It was his first time behind bars, and of all the prisoners doing Katrina time,” as they’d termed it, he was the most perplexed by it all.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers