preventpre‧vent /prɪˈvent/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] 
The rules are intended to prevent accidents.prevent somebody/something (from) doing something His back injury may prevent him from playing in tomorrow’s game. We were prevented from entering the site. Wrap small ornaments in paper to prevent them being damaged.—preventable adjective: preventable diseases Every one of these deaths is preventable.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say stop somebody/something (from) doing something rather than prevent somebody/something (from) doing something:· This barrier is to stop people from coming in without a ticket.
WORD ORIGINprevent
Origin:
1400-1500 Latin past participle of praevenire ‘to come before’VERB TABLE
prevent
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prevent |
| he, she, it | prevents | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | prevented |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have prevented |
| he, she, it | has prevented | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had prevented |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prevent |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have prevented |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am preventing |
| he, she, it | is preventing | |
| you, we, they | are preventing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was preventing |
| you, we, they | were preventing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been preventing |
| he, she, it | has been preventing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been preventing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be preventing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been preventing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A leg injury may prevent Shearer from playing in tomorrow's game.
- There were reports that some people had been prevented from voting in the election.
- To prevent injuries you should always stretch before exercising.
- Can anything be done to prevent this?
- International pressure should be mobilised much earlier, as it can be effective in preventing this practice.
- It has been rumored around town today that I left to prevent my being nominated as vice president.
- It was only police vigilance which prevented more than the four casualties.
- Many think that to prevent the demolition of useful residential buildings, theatres and cinemas is equally important.
- The obvious talking point after the game was the deliberate knock-down by David Campese, which prevented the ball reaching Rory Underwood.
- This week's conference had been superfluous since Sunday's vote to prevent amendments to the policy review documents, he said.
Longman Language Activatorto prevent someone from doing what they want to do
to make it impossible for someone to do something that they want to do: prevent somebody from doing something: · A leg injury may prevent Shearer from playing in tomorrow's game.· There were reports that some people had been prevented from voting in the election.
to stop someone from doing something that they want to do, especially by controlling them in an unreasonable way: · I've made up my mind to leave home, and you can't stop me.stop somebody (from) doing something: · My parents tried to stop me seeing Anne.· The government has taken legal action to stop the BBC from broadcasting a documentary about the Secret Service.
to prevent someone from doing something, especially something that might be harmful or upsetting: · Staying busy kept her from thinking about her illness.· It was all I could do to keep myself from hitting him.
to prevent someone from doing something harmful or stupid, either by physically stopping them or by persuading them not to do it: · Roger stepped forward and Martin put out his arm to restrain him.restrain yourself: · She wanted to ask him all about his private life, but wisely restrained herself.restrain somebody from doing something: · His arm was hurting him and he had to be restrained from doing too much.
to prevent someone or something from moving forward or making progress: hold back somebody/something: · The police had already erected crash barriers to hold back the advancing crowds.· The poor economic situation has held back investment in new technology.hold somebody/something back: · Bill leapt to his feet to go after the girl, but the others held him back.· She always felt that being a woman had held her back in her career.
to make someone too busy to do something else, especially something they should do: · Don't let your social life get in the way of your education.
to make it less likely that someone will do something, for example by showing them that it may have a bad or unwelcome result: · Higher taxes are likely to discourage investment.· It is a well known fact that a negative working environment discourages creativity.discourage somebody from doing something: · Higher cigarette prices do not seem to discourage people from smoking.
to make sure that something does not happen to make sure that something will not happen or cannot happen, especially something bad. Prevent is more formal than stop: · Many people now believe that a good diet can help to prevent cancer.· The new laws are designed to stop discrimination in the workplace.prevent/stop something (from) happening: · A special valve prevents the waste gases from escaping.· Stretch the rope out to stop it getting twisted and tangled up.
to do something to prevent something bad that may happen: · The company is anxious to avoid an expensive court case.· We take every precaution to avoid accidents.avoid something at all costs (=do everything possible to avoid something happening): · Civilian casualties must be avoided at all costs.
formal to do something to prevent something bad that will happen very soon if you do not do anything: · It may already be too late to avert another disaster.· Talks will be held today in a final attempt to avert strike action.
to do something to stop a difficult or unpleasant situation from developing, when it seems very likely to happen soon: · They agreed to meet government ministers in an attempt to head off a major conflict.· We managed to head off a financial crisis last year, but we may not be so lucky this year.
to carefully plan and think about what you can do in order to prevent something bad from happening: · The city council is taking emergency measures to guard against flooding in the city centre.· Use sunscreen on your skin to help guard against skin cancer.
something that can be prevented something bad that is preventable , can be prevented: · Whooping cough and measles are both preventable diseases.· Many of these deaths each year are preventable.
difficulties or problems that are avoidable can be prevented, and therefore you should not have to deal with them: · Running out of gas is annoying and easily avoidable.· Too many children are still injured in avoidable accidents.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Sudan requires food immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
· Steps have been taken to prevent a similar accident happening again.
Sudan requires food immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.· Young trees need protecting to prevent damage from the wind.
· You can use a preservative on the wood to prevent further decay.
· They called for an international programme to prevent the disaster happening again.
· It has been claimed that fibre in the diet could help prevent many serious diseases.
(also foil an escape formal) (=stop an escape)· Walker grabbed her firmly by the wrist, preventing any chance of escape.
· He was put in a mental hospital to prevent harm to others.
· Vaccines have been successful in preventing illness.
· Legislation prevents the import and export of certain types of drug.
· Efforts are being made to prevent further pollution.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· This action prevents undue role conflict on the question of impartiality from the chair. 23.· Obviously, he feared violent action and, to prevent it, planned another attempt at an understanding with the Viceroy.· Such action was prevented by the war.· The blast set the 29-year-old on fire and only the prompt action of a passer-by prevented potentially fatal injuries.· Indeed, some stakeholders may take action to prevent a rational analysis of their stance or at least any debate over it.· State action to prevent illegal and unauthorised acts of local authorities.· The action taken does not prevent him from practising as he is still on the council register.· It is obvious that the punishing cost of libel actions prevents Francis from making direct accusations against current athletes.
· Citizens died on the church steps in their attempt to prevent altar-pieces being taken away.· But once again, our attempt to prevent bad management made good management impossible.· Despite Brett's attempt to prevent it, the firebombs had been detonated.· The rule is an attempt to prevent harm to pets or rare species that may wander into the traps.· Uefa is to rule on Leeds's decision to ban visiting supporters in an attempt to prevent further violence.· In an attempt to prevent his mouth from falling open, a woollen strap had been passed beneath his chin.· A judge said it is the duty of the courts to support any attempts being made to prevent crimes of that nature.· It might also start by attempts to prevent the transportation of strikebreakers or goods, and a clash would follow police intervention.
· Middlesex sought to prevent urban development, with the secondary purpose of preserving amenity and providing recreational facilities.· As with the peasantry, strong ties of loyalty and obligation tend to prevent the development of permanent horizontal links.· Yet, the lynchings and the surveillance of blacks in an effort to prevent the development of rebellion continued.· It is therefore easier to prevent development on the basis of the precautionary principle, rather than look for possible solutions.· But Caltrans officials said the scenic-highway designation would not limit traffic, prevent development or halt road-widening projects.· In the old days the subtle relationships which constituted the Establishment at work would have prevented any such developments taking place.· They argue that these men have suffered bad childhood experiences which have prevented their normal development.
· Other protesters blocked cars, demanding answers from a government they said moved too slowly to prevent the disaster.· The only way to prevent more cycles of disaster was to build a civilization based on irrigated farming.· This would help prevent such a disaster occurring again.· Herewith some advice on preventing inconvenience turning into disaster.· In 1991 the state adopted an update of the Uniform Plumbing Code to prevent such a disaster from happening.
· Should one seek the causes, eliminate them and so prevent the disease?· At the same time, our ability to detect, contain, and prevent emerging infectious diseases is in jeopardy.· Not only can it help control your weight and prevent heart disease, it will make you look and feel better.· And it will allow them to take positive steps to help prevent getting the disease or limit the impact of its complications.· This includes activities undertaken by individuals to prevent disease or to detect it in an asymptomatic state.· Activities i. Develop, evaluate, and assist in the implementation of guidelines for preventing emerging infectious diseases.· The protein eats normal cells, leading to the drastic weight loss which weakens patients and prevents them fighting the disease.· Q.. For several years my wife and I have been taking beta-carotene pills in an effort to prevent heart disease.
· They were much more concerned about efforts to prevent illness, and to improve the quality of life of people incurably ill.· Yet, the lynchings and the surveillance of blacks in an effort to prevent the development of rebellion continued.· But they also knew there was a remote chance that their efforts might help to prevent catastrophe.· Q.. For several years my wife and I have been taking beta-carotene pills in an effort to prevent heart disease.· None of this may come to pass, but all efforts to prevent it so far have backfired.· Lack of surveillance and limited availability of appropriate diagnostic tests interfere with public health efforts to prevent and control outbreaks.· So efforts were made to prevent children from coming into care.· Voice over Lexie's parents are pleased that their efforts may prevent other children dying from the side effects of steroid treatment.
· Medtronic Inc. v. Lohr: Federal law does not prevent patients from suing manufacturers of defective medical devices in state courts.· We should have a law which prevents deliberate cruelty to animals even if those animals are wild. 3.· That game was held at Los Angeles Coliseum, where California law prevented local college bands from performing at a professional event.· City laws therefore prevented the mayor from firing his chief.· Passing laws that prevent citizens from taking out their savings only intensifies the confidence crisis.· Governor John Seymour had seen to the passage of laws designed to prevent public worship and to bar Catholic newcomers.
· Health disorders which prevent weight loss are very rare.· This will prevent the loss of much of your work in the event of a power failure or other mishap.· The lift will practically prevent all loss of water by lockage under the present system.· But weight training increases muscle strength and size, and prevents muscle loss during dieting.· This dose of oestrogen has previously been shown to be the minimum required to prevent bone loss in normal menopausal women.· Fighting hard to prevent such losses is not irrational.· Again s176 would prevent this loss being allowable.· The reform plan outlined a number of other measures to prevent losses from going undetected in the future.
· They can see what difficulties have arisen in the past and what corrective measures were taken to prevent their recurrence.· Some introduced measures in Congress to prevent Washington from helping move the peace process forward.· On a tough Oxford estate drastic measures were needed to prevent further damage.· The California Democrat introduced S600 last month, a measure to prevent credit bureaus from selling header information.· At the Royal Show the Agriculture Minister insisted there are adequate measures to prevent the spread of disease.· Verses 32-40 set out measures to prevent contamination of food and water supplies.· Carry out measures to prevent shock, such as keeping the patient warm and relieving pain.· He argued that the sinister-looking chain-link is actually a safety measure, preventing fighters from tumbling into the crowd.
· One of the most important is using information about the type of data stored in order to to prevent howlers.· In order to prevent them from becoming overgrown by algae, a few snails may be added.· Such an order would prevent the defendants using that information for any purpose of defending an action in the Commercial Court.· She spied on him and watched closely over the friendships he formed, in order to prevent him from assuming power.· The Attorney-General may proceed in the High Court for an Order to prevent the local authority carrying out its intended unlawful act.· Visitors were forbidden, in order to prevent coaching of the newly arrived.· Security was increased during the elections to ensure public order and to prevent any interference with polling stations.· He also argued family planning clinics should not be bound by a gag order preventing them from counseling patients on abortion.
· They have to plan and act quickly to prevent any spread to other animals or humans.· The major effect of the anticonvulsant drugs is to prevent that kind of spread.· Remember, treat all contacts to prevent spread.· One was to segregate lepers in order to prevent the spread of the disease.· Information is needed too about the part the patient is expected to play in preventing the spread of infection.· Essential oils can be sprayed around the sick room to prevent the spread of infection during epidemics.· At the Royal Show the Agriculture Minister insisted there are adequate measures to prevent the spread of disease.· Some strains of bees prevent the spread of the disease by removing the rotting larvae.
· It also seeks injunctions aimed at preventing such use.· Patents and other proprietary mechanisms may prevent the use of the most efficient processes turning out the best quality products.· Government rules prevent the use of that money to build council houses but Coun Munsey wants Mr Major to overturn those policies.· Conversely, because early death prevents the use of heparin altogether, mortality may be falsely high in the no-heparin groups.· It was decided that the information was no longer confidential soas to prevent other parties making use of it.· The Act is designed to conserve and enhance the land and prevent undesirable uses or developments.· However, degrees-of-freedom considerations prevent the use of such an approach in the present study.· The rules do not prevent the use of extrinsic evidence in interpreting genuine ambiguities in the words of the contract.
VERB· You want to force those nuclei together while nature is designed to prevent it.· Lessons must be designed soas to prevent the learner making mistakes.· Governor John Seymour had seen to the passage of laws designed to prevent public worship and to bar Catholic newcomers.· Many of these accidents simply needn't happen and Huggy's Home Safety Tips are designed to help prevent them. 1.· Extra security was designed to prevent trouble inside the Opera House.· The scheme proposed by the National Rivers Authority is designed to prevent flooding caused by a repeat of the 1947 event.· Therefore it is important to select a system which is designed to prevent this reduction in temperature in order to get maximum benefit.
· A Chancellor of the Exchequer who had failed to prevent thieves penetrating his treasury was summarily beaten to death.· The Government have failed to tackle or prevent crime.· But has the Fed failed to prevent the imbalances created by the recent boom from getting out of hand?· It still failed to prevent him and Pinsent taking gold.· His predecessor, Anatoly Stroikin, was criticized for failing to prevent the taking of hostages on April 21.
· Now a new global watchdog group has been launched to help prevent these attacks.· Most lawyers spend most of their time helping clients prevent or resolve disputes, trying their best to avoid costly litigation.· The inner has been lightly coated with Scotchgard, which helps to prevent the fabric from absorbing water.· Daily use of Famvir may help prevent recurrence, according to studies.· Warming up Before you begin, take time to do the leg stretches overleaf which will help prevent any muscle strain.· This, more than anything, helps prevent unauthorized users from logging into machines on the network.· Brush the cut surfaces with the lemon juice to help prevent discolouration.· Venting the attic, and allowing the roof to breathe, often helps prevent asphalt roof shingles from curling.
· Middlesex sought to prevent urban development, with the secondary purpose of preserving amenity and providing recreational facilities.· Simply put, people seek to prevent what they fear.· It also seeks injunctions aimed at preventing such use.· The interdict seeks to prevent the authority proceeding with its hearing in the absence through illness of Mr Stewart.· Individuals might then seek to prevent such government action on the basis of the agreement.· Compliance strategy seeks to prevent a harm rather than punish an evil.· Sometimes human intervention is not a question of changing the environment, but of seeking to prevent its change.· Injunctions were sought to prevent this, but the judge had some difficulty in finding that the demonstrators were acting illegally.
· Around 4,000 police were on duty outside the ground to try to prevent more trouble at the game.· Mackenzie brought suit to try to prevent Toronto and London from taking power from Hydro.· Another one trying to prevent the Federation descending into chaos; he would be no more successful than the Archon.· Gingrich debuts as a House freshman trying right off to prevent the seating of a 24-year Democratic member.· But nomatterhow much she tried she could not prevent the shift in perceptions towards her.· The government has sometimes tried to prevent the publication of material.· He had tried to prevent the creature from finding his woman companion.· The following month Roosevelt and Churchill tried to prevent de Gaulle from conducting legal proceedings against former Vichy officials.
WORD FAMILYadjectivepreventablepreventive/preventativenounpreventionverbpreventadverbpreventively/preventatively
to stop something from happening, or stop someone from doing something: The rules are intended to prevent accidents.prevent somebody/something (from) doing something His back injury may prevent him from playing in tomorrow’s game. We were prevented from entering the site. Wrap small ornaments in paper to prevent them being damaged.—preventable adjective: preventable diseases Every one of these deaths is preventable.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say stop somebody/something (from) doing something rather than prevent somebody/something (from) doing something:· This barrier is to stop people from coming in without a ticket.