Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense prevents, present participle preventing, past tense, past participle prevented
1. verb
To prevent something means to ensure that it does not happen.
These methods prevent pregnancy. [VERB noun]
Further treatment will prevent cancer from developing. [VERB noun + from]
We recognized the possibility and took steps to prevent it happening. [VERB noun verb-ing]
Synonyms: stop, avoid, frustrate, restrain More Synonyms of prevent
preventionuncountable noun
...the prevention of heart disease. [+ of]
...crime prevention.
Synonyms: elimination, safeguard, precaution, anticipation More Synonyms of prevent
2. verb
To prevent someone from doing something means to make it impossible for them to do it.
He said this would prevent companies from creating new jobs. [VERB noun + from]
Its nationals may be prevented from leaving the country. [V n from -ing]
The police have been trying to prevent them carrying weapons. [VERB noun verb-ing]
[Also VERB noun]
prevent in British English
(prɪˈvɛnt)
verb
1. (transitive)
to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
2. (transitive; often foll byfrom)
to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
3. (intransitive)
to interpose or act as a hindrance
4. (transitive) archaic
to anticipate or precede
Derived forms
preventable (preˈventable) or preventible (preˈventible)
adjective
preventability (preˌventaˈbility) or preventibility (preˌventiˈbility)
noun
preventably (preˈventably) or preventibly (preˈventibly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin praevenīre, from prae before + venīre to come
prevent in American English
(priˈvɛnt; prɪˈvɛnt)
verb transitive
1. Obsolete
a.
to act in anticipation of (an event or a fixed time)
b.
to anticipate (a need, objection, etc.)
c.
to precede
2.
to stop or keep (from doing something)
3.
to keep from happening; make impossible by prior action; hinder
verb intransitive
4.
to interpose an obstacle
SYNONYMY NOTE: prevent implies a stopping or keeping from happening, as by some prior action or by interposingan obstacle or impediment [to prevent disease]; forestall suggests advance action to stop something in its course and thereby make it ineffective[try to forestall their questions]; preclude implies a making impossible by shutting off every possibility of occurrence [locked doors precluded his escape ]; obviate suggests the preventing of some unfavorable outcome by taking necessary anticipatorymeasures [her frankness obviated objections]; avert suggests a warding off of imminent danger or misfortune [diplomacy can avert war]
OPPOSITES: permit, allow
Derived forms
preventable (preˈventable)
adjective or preˈventible
preventer (preˈventer)
noun
Word origin
ME preventen < L praeventus, pp. of praevenire, to anticipate < prae-, before (see pre-) + venire, to come
Examples of 'prevent' in a sentence
prevent
Adrina had to bite her lip to prevent herself laughing aloud.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Her diet is supposed to prevent her from vomiting: no food-poisoning, no bacteria, no bugs.
Scarlett Thomas GOING OUT (2001)
He doesn't say that it might be made strong enough to prevent a man from Skilling at all.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2001)
Sluggish with sleep, I was unable to move in time to prevent her from placing it neatly on my chest.
Elizabeth Peters HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY (2001)
In other languages
prevent
British English: prevent /prɪˈvɛnt/ VERB
If you prevent something, you stop it happening or being done.
This new system will prevent water being wasted.
American English: prevent
Arabic: يـَمْنَع
Brazilian Portuguese: prevenir
Chinese: 预防
Croatian: spriječiti
Czech: zabránit
Danish: forhindre
Dutch: voorkomen
European Spanish: impedir
Finnish: estää ehkäistä tapahtuma
French: empêcher
German: verhindern
Greek: προλαμβάνω
Italian: impedire
Japanese: 防ぐ
Korean: 예방하다
Norwegian: hindre
Polish: zapobiec
European Portuguese: prevenir
Romanian: a împiedica să se întâmple
Russian: предотвращать
Latin American Spanish: impedir
Swedish: förhindra
Thai: ป้องกัน
Turkish: önlemek
Ukrainian: запобігати
Vietnamese: ngăn ngừa
Chinese translation of 'prevent'
prevent
(prɪˈvɛnt)
vt
[war, disease, situation]阻止 (zǔzhǐ)
[accident, fire]防止 (fángzhǐ)
to prevent sb (from) doing sth阻止某人做某事 (zǔzhǐ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
to prevent sth (from) happening防止某事发(發)生 (fángzhǐ mǒushì fāshēng)
(verb)
Definition
to keep (someone from doing something)
We took steps to prevent it happening.These methods prevent pregnancy.
Synonyms
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
avoid
She had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster.
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
restrain
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
bar
He stepped in front of her, barring her way.
block
All attempts to complain to his superiors were blocked.
anticipate
hamper
I was hampered by a lack of information.
foil
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
inhibit
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
head off
avert
A fresh tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
intercept
They were intercepted on the way to the airport.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
obstruct
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
preclude
The fact that they live in London precludes them from coming.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
counteract
Many countries within the region are planning measures to counteract a missile attack.
ward off
balk
stave off
forestall
They had done little to forestall the attack.
defend against
obviate (formal)
This would obviate the need for a surgical operation.
nip in the bud
Opposites
help
,
encourage
,
support
,
allow
,
urge
, permit,
incite
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avert
Definition
to ward off
A fresh tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday.
Synonyms
ward off,
avoid,
prevent,
frustrate,
fend off,
preclude,
stave off,
forestall,
deflect
in the sense of avoid
Definition
to prevent from happening
She had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
frustrate,
hamper,
foil,
inhibit,
head off,
avert,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
ward off,
stave off,
forestall,
defend against
in the sense of balk
Definition
to thwart, check, or foil
Synonyms
foil,
check,
bar,
defeat,
prevent,
frustrate,
baffle,
thwart,
hinder,
obstruct,
counteract,
disconcert,
forestall
Synonyms of 'prevent'
prevent
Explore 'prevent' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bar
Definition
to obstruct
He stepped in front of her, barring her way.
Synonyms
block,
restrict,
hold up,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
shut off
in the sense of block
Definition
to impede, retard, or prevent (an action or procedure)
All attempts to complain to his superiors were blocked.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
check,
bar,
frustrate,
foil,
thwart,
obstruct,
forestall,
nip in the bud
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
in the sense of counteract
Definition
to act against or neutralize
Many countries within the region are planning measures to counteract a missile attack.
Synonyms
act against,
check,
defeat,
prevent,
oppose,
resist,
frustrate,
foil,
thwart,
hinder,
cross
in the sense of foil
Definition
to baffle or frustrate (a person or an attempt)
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
check,
defeat,
disappoint,
counter,
frustrate,
hamper,
baffle,
elude,
balk,
circumvent,
outwit,
nullify,
checkmate,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in (someone's) wheel (British)
in the sense of forestall
Definition
to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
They had done little to forestall the attack.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
frustrate,
anticipate,
head off,
parry,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
preclude,
balk,
circumvent,
obviate (formal),
nip in the bud,
provide against
in the sense of frustrate
Definition
to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
check,
block,
defeat,
disappoint,
counter,
confront,
spoil,
foil,
baffle,
inhibit,
hobble,
balk,
circumvent,
forestall,
neutralize,
stymie,
nullify,
render null and void,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of hamper
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone or something) to move or progress
I was hampered by a lack of information.
Synonyms
hinder,
handicap,
hold up,
prevent,
restrict,
frustrate,
curb,
slow down,
restrain,
hamstring,
interfere with,
cramp,
thwart,
obstruct,
impede,
hobble,
fetter,
encumber,
trammel
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of impede
Definition
to block or make progress or action difficult
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
slow (down),
check,
bar,
block,
delay,
hold up,
brake,
disrupt,
curb,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
clog,
obstruct,
retard,
encumber,
cumber,
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inhibit
Definition
to restrain or hinder (an impulse or desire)
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
prevent,
check,
bar,
arrest,
frustrate,
curb,
restrain,
constrain,
obstruct,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
throw a spanner in the works of,
hold back or in
in the sense of intercept
Definition
to stop or seize on the way from one place to another
They were intercepted on the way to the airport.
Synonyms
catch,
take,
stop,
check,
block,
arrest,
seize,
cut off,
interrupt,
head off,
deflect,
obstruct
in the sense of obstruct
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
Synonyms
impede,
prevent,
frustrate,
hold up,
slow down,
hamstring,
interfere with,
hamper,
hold back,
thwart,
hinder,
retard,
get in the way of,
trammel,
cumber
in the sense of obviate
Definition
to avoid or prevent (a need or difficulty)
This would obviate the need for a surgical operation.
Synonyms
avert,
avoid,
remove,
prevent,
counter,
do away with,
preclude,
counteract,
ward off,
stave off,
forestall,
render unnecessary
in the sense of preclude
Definition
to make impossible to happen
The fact that they live in London precludes them from coming.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
check,
exclude,
restrain,
prohibit,
inhibit,
hinder,
forestall,
debar
in the sense of restrain
Definition
to hold (someone) back from some action
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
Synonyms
hold back,
hold,
control,
check,
contain,
prevent,
restrict,
handicap,
confine,
curb,
hamper,
rein,
harness,
subdue,
hinder,
constrain,
curtail,
bridle,
debar,
keep under control,
have on a tight leash,
straiten
in the sense of thwart
Definition
to prevent or foil
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.