Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense protects, present participle protecting, past tense, past participle protected
1. verb
To protect someone or something means to prevent them from being harmed or damaged.
So, what can women do to protect themselves from heart disease? [V n + from/against]
A long thin wool coat and a purple headscarf protected her against the wind. [V n from/against n]
The government is committed to protecting the interests of tenants. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If an insurance policy protects you against an event such as death, injury, fire, or theft, the insurance company will give you or your family money if that event happens.
Many manufacturers have policies to protect themselves against blackmailers. [VERB noun + against]
[Also V + against]
More Synonyms of protect
protect in British English
(prəˈtɛkt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
2. economics
to assist (domestic industries) by the imposition of protective tariffs on imports
3. business
to provide funds in advance to guarantee payment of (a note, draft, etc)
Word origin
C16: from Latin prōtegere to cover before, from pro-1 + tegere to cover
protect in American English
(prəˈtɛkt; proʊˈtɛkt)
verb transitive
1.
to shield from injury, danger, or loss; guard; defend
2. Business
to set aside funds toward the payment of (a note, draft, etc.) at maturity
3. Economics
to guard (domestic industry) as by tariffs on imported products
Derived forms
protectable (proˈtectable)
adjective
Word origin
< L protectus, pp. of protegere, to protect < pro-, before + tegere, to cover: see thatch
Examples of 'protect' in a sentence
protect
This is packed with energy and antibodies to protect against disease.
The Sun (2016)
This is packed with energy and antibodies to protect against disease.
The Sun (2016)
You move as if to protect yourself from harm.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They protect you against diseases in the environment.
Christianity Today (2000)
These are not covered under a government guarantee protecting senior creditors.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You and your loved ones have the right to expect the government to protect you from harm.
The Sun (2012)
The guarantee does not protect deposits from any tax charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The rationale behind occupational licensing is that it protects consumers from harm.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They plug the gaps where weeds might colonise and protect against disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The government and builders provide a guarantee to protect lenders from potential losses.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It costs surprisingly little to protect yourself from harm.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He concluded they are low in animal fat and protect against heart disease.
The Sun (2016)
Make sure that you protect the guarantee.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Many are protected with listed status.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Fish oils protect against heart disease.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
But he was accused of talking tough while ditching a vow to introduce new laws to protect people who defend their homes.
The Sun (2011)
It said that it was ready to defend and protect Turkey if necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But in practice, we can do little to protect them from attacks outside the workplace.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But 36 per cent trust none of the party leaders to protect them from attack.
The Sun (2015)
The Tory leader's tough message came as he spelled out plans to protect people who defend their properties.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
protect
British English: protect /prəˈtɛkt/ VERB
To protect someone or something means to prevent them from being harmed or damaged.
What can women do to protect themselves?
American English: protect
Arabic: يَحْمِي
Brazilian Portuguese: proteger
Chinese: 保护
Croatian: štititi
Czech: chránit
Danish: beskytte
Dutch: beschermen
European Spanish: proteger
Finnish: suojella
French: protéger
German: beschützen
Greek: προστατεύω
Italian: proteggere
Japanese: 保護する
Korean: 보호하다
Norwegian: beskytte
Polish: ochronić
European Portuguese: proteger
Romanian: a proteja
Russian: защищать
Latin American Spanish: proteger
Swedish: skydda
Thai: ป้องกัน
Turkish: korumak
Ukrainian: захищати
Vietnamese: bảo vệ
All related terms of 'protect'
protect cells
A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently. Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells.
protect jobs
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
write-protect
to protect (a computer disk ) from accidental writing or erasure
protect freedom
Freedom is the state of being allowed to do what you want to do. Freedoms are instances of this.
protect health
A person's health is the condition of their body and the extent to which it is free from illness or is able to resist illness.
protect safety
Safety is the state of being safe from harm or danger .
protect a budget
Your budget is the amount of money that you have available to spend. The budget for something is the amount of money that a person, organization, or country has available to spend on it.
protect a population
The population of a country or area is all the people who live in it.
protect a reputation
Something's or someone's reputation is the opinion that people have about how good they are. If they have a good reputation, people think they are good.
write-protect notch
a cut-out on a floppy disk that determines whether a disk is writable
protect the identity of
Your identity is who you are.
to protect someone's interests
to look after the well-being of someone
Chinese translation of 'protect'
protect
(prəˈtɛkt)
vt
[person, floor, rights, freedom]保护(護) (bǎohù)
to protect sb/sth from or against sth保护(護)某人/某物不受某物的伤(傷)害 (bǎohù mǒurén/mǒuwù bù shòu mǒuwù de shānghài)
to protect o.s. from or against sth保护(護)自己不受某物的伤(傷)害 (bǎohù zìjǐ bù shòu mǒuwù de shānghài)
(verb)
Definition
to defend from trouble, harm, or loss
He vowed to protect them.
Synonyms
keep someone safe
defend
They defended themselves against some thugs.
keep
She kept many foster children over the years.
support
save
a final attempt to save 40,000 jobs
guard
Sentries guarded the entrance to the building.
secure
The loan is secured against your home.
preserve
We need to preserve the rainforests.
look after
foster
shelter
A neighbour sheltered the boy for seven days.
shield
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.
care for
harbour
harbouring terrorist suspects
safeguard
international action to safeguard the ozone layer
watch over
stick up for (informal)
cover up for
chaperon
give someone sanctuary
take someone under your wing
mount or stand guard over
Opposites
attack
,
threaten
,
assault
,
expose
,
betray
,
endanger
,
assail
,
expose to danger
Additional synonyms
in the sense of defend
Definition
to protect from harm or danger
They defended themselves against some thugs.
Synonyms
protect,
cover,
guard,
screen,
secure,
preserve,
look after,
shelter,
shield,
harbour,
safeguard,
fortify,
ward off,
watch over,
stick up for (informal),
keep safe,
give sanctuary
in the sense of guard
Definition
to take precautions
Sentries guarded the entrance to the building.
Synonyms
protect,
watch,
defend,
secure,
police,
mind,
cover,
screen,
preserve,
shelter,
shield,
patrol,
oversee,
safeguard,
watch over
in the sense of harbour
Definition
to give shelter or protection to
harbouring terrorist suspects
Synonyms
shelter,
protect,
hide,
relieve,
lodge,
shield,
conceal,
secrete,
provide refuge,
give asylum to
Synonyms of 'protect'
protect
Explore 'protect' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of keep
Definition
to support (someone) financially
She kept many foster children over the years.
Synonyms
support,
maintain,
sustain,
provide for,
mind,
fund,
board,
finance,
feed,
look after,
foster,
shelter,
care for,
take care of,
nurture,
safeguard,
cherish,
nourish,
subsidize
in the sense of preserve
Definition
to keep safe from change or extinction
We need to preserve the rainforests.
Synonyms
protect,
keep,
save,
maintain,
guard,
defend,
secure,
shelter,
shield,
care for,
safeguard,
conserve
in the sense of safeguard
Definition
to protect (something) from being harmed or destroyed
international action to safeguard the ozone layer
Synonyms
protect,
guard,
defend,
save,
screen,
secure,
preserve,
look after,
shield,
watch over,
keep safe
in the sense of save
Definition
to treat with care so as to preserve
a final attempt to save 40,000 jobs
Synonyms
protect,
keep,
guard,
preserve,
look after,
take care of,
safeguard,
salvage,
conserve,
keep safe
in the sense of secure
Definition
to guarantee (payment of a loan) by giving something as security
The loan is secured against your home.
Synonyms
guarantee,
protect,
insure,
ensure,
assure,
warrant,
indemnify
in the sense of shelter
Definition
to provide with a place to live or a hiding place
A neighbour sheltered the boy for seven days.
Synonyms
protect,
shield,
harbour,
safeguard,
cover,
save,
hide,
guard,
defend,
take in,
keep safe,
keep from harm
in the sense of shield
Definition
to protect, hide, or defend (someone or something) from danger or harm
He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.