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.

“By virtue of its power, it has kept me behind bars for five years, and they could extend my confinement without justification.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

However, more than 400 are still behind bars, according to pressure group Foro Penal.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

The 86-year-old disbarred lawyer, once the most prominent trial attorney in California, will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of wire fraud last year.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

She was sentenced to nine years in prison, but after Polis’ commutation, Peters is expected to be released on June 1, having served less than two years behind bars for her crimes.

From Slate • May 21, 2026

Thorarinsson said that Fischer, locked behind bars, reminded him of Hamlet, and then he quoted a line from Shakespeare’s play:

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady