prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
prohibits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prohibited,
past participle, past
-
prohibiting
present participle
verb
-
to forbid by law or other authority
-
to hinder or prevent
Usage
What’s the difference between prohibit and inhibit? Prohibit most commonly means to forbid or disallow, but it can also mean what inhibit usually means—to prevent or hinder. Inhibit can also mean to forbid, but this use is much less common. Prohibit is most commonly used in the context of rules, especially official ones like laws. The speed limit prohibits you from going above a certain speed. Parents might prohibit their kids from eating candy before dinner, but the word forbid is more commonly used in cases like this. Inhibit, on the other hand, is usually used in the context of things that prevent or hinder what someone is trying to do. Speed bumps are designed to inhibit speeding. A leg injury can inhibit your ability to walk. The meaning of prohibit and inhibit most often overlaps in cases when something is inhibited to the point of almost not being able to happen at all, as in This cast is designed to prohibit movement (prohibit could be replaced with inhibit in this sentence without much or any change in meaning). The adjective form inhibited is often used to indicate that someone or something is held back from full potential. When it’s applied to a person, it usually involves a mental, emotional, or psychological block, as in I feel less inhibited around my new group of friends—they accept me for who I am. The adjective prohibited describes something that’s forbidden, as in The sign lists all of the prohibited activities. Here’s an example of prohibit and inhibit used correctly in the same sentence. Example: To inhibit the acceleration of climate change, we must prohibit any increase in fossil fuel emissions. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inhibit and prohibit.
Synonym Usage
See forbid.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
prohibitsimple
-
prohibitssimple
-
have prohibitedperfect
-
has prohibitedperfect
-
am prohibitingprogressive
-
are prohibitingprogressive
-
is prohibitingprogressive
-
have been prohibitingperfect progressive
-
has been prohibitingperfect progressive
Past
-
prohibitedsimple
-
had prohibitedperfect
-
was prohibitingprogressive
-
were prohibitingprogressive
-
had been prohibitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prohibit
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibēre “to hold before, hold back, hinder, forbid,” equivalent to pro- pro- 1 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre “to have, hold”; see habit 1
Explanation
If a sign says "Swimming Prohibited," don't go for a dip. It's not allowed. To prohibit is to forbid, or to disallow something. In school, you are prohibited from leaving the premises before the end of the school day. The school administration also prohibits smoking and chewing gum. In 1920, it became illegal to sell alcohol in the United States. This time period when alcohol was prohibited is known as the era of Prohibition. Famously Prohibition did not work. When you prohibit something, you often make it seem more appealing.
Vocabulary lists containing prohibit
The Bill of Rights
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 14
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The First Amendment of the US Constitution
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Altman said that users can customize instructions and implement custom rules that prohibit what Dots are capable of.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
The new agreement is expected to make U.S. access permanent and prohibit adversarial nations from establishing bases there.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
"The Government should expressly prohibit businesses from requiring digital IDs for age checks without offering reasonable alternatives," she added.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The debate over FFS grew so rancorous that Bassmaster decided that this year’s Elite Series would be split in half–half of the tournaments would be fished with FFS, and the half would prohibit FFS completely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
For more about forbid and prohibit, see pages 114 and 116.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Currently, the charter prohibits the city from mortgaging city-owned property and prevents it from operating purely commercial or industrial businesses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The State Department later clarified that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there are no plans to do so.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
The invitation comes two days after a federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon's decision to classify Anthropic as a supply chain risk, which prohibits the United States military from using its models.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex and national origin as well as age and disabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The following year, Mexico forbids further American colonization of Texas and prohibits the importation of more slaves into the territory.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Commercial logos, banners and tent-like structures are also prohibited.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Star running back Jadan Baugh squatted such an astronomical number—600 pounds—that the conditioning staff prohibited him from throwing any more weight on the machine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
According to the rules taking effect on Tuesday, Chinese citizens may be prohibited from leaving the country if they violate technology import and export regulations that "may endanger national industrial or technological security".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The law also prohibited mortgage lenders and servicers from requiring borrowers to pay back any forbearance in a lump sum, but it otherwise did not specify repayment terms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
The Constitution of the United States, only recently ratified, specifically prohibited the Congress from passing any law that abolished or restricted the slave trade until 1808.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
He points out in a note to clients that Australia’s Victoria state has announced new rules prohibiting centers from being built in residential areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Former Heisman-winning QB Jayden Daniels issues cease-and-desist letter to LSU prohibiting the school from using his name, image and likeness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
The judge also imposed indefinite non-harassment orders prohibiting the pair from contacting their victim in any way.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, also made an order "prohibiting" India from carrying out works at two hydroelectric projects that could breach the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Any way he approached the question, he couldn’t see the logic in prohibiting calls.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
