prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
prohibits,
present (3rd person singular)
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prohibited,
past participle, past
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prohibiting
present participle
verb
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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
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prohibitsimple
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prohibitssimple
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have prohibitedperfect
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has prohibitedperfect
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am prohibitingprogressive
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are prohibitingprogressive
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is prohibitingprogressive
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have been prohibitingperfect progressive
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has been prohibitingperfect progressive
Past
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prohibitedsimple
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had prohibitedperfect
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was prohibitingprogressive
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were prohibitingprogressive
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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
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List 14
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The First Amendment of the US Constitution
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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:
In the hardest-hit cities, several buildings were marked with a red "X" to warn of the risk of collapse and prohibit pedestrian access.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The Clarity Act has stalled, driven in part by disagreements over ethics language that would prohibit government officials from profiting off digital assets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Staff are now working to draft language to prohibit the fabrication of engineered-stone countertops and similar products, which will need to be reviewed by stakeholders and approved by the board before it can be implemented.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Back in 2021, activists had successfully lobbied the state of New Jersey to prohibit municipal and county governments as well as private facilities from entering into new contracts with ICE to house immigration detainees.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
Only ten states prohibit all employers and licensing agencies from considering arrests, and three states prohibit some employers and occupational and licensing agencies from doing so.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of religion, race, sex and national origin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Today Title IX, the 1972 civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal money, has transformed women’s and girls’ athletics.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026
In Arizona, for example, “state law prohibits our department from a role overseeing private schools,” a spokesperson for the state Department of Education told ProPublica.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
His surname is not being used due to German law, which prohibits naming suspects at this stage.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The well-dressed anchorwoman announces the passing of what has come to be known as “the Davey Bill,” which prohibits Confederate flags on any and all public buildings.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
The MoD said: "Action has been taken following a service inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this potential exposure to prevent similar issues arising in the future, and Army use of the Skrunda-1 site is prohibited."
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
The property replied that it was prepared to welcome him, noting he could post content after the media exclusivity window, but filming public spaces was prohibited and filming private spaces required approval.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
From Tuesday, unsolicited calls are prohibited for businesses in all sectors - but there are some exceptions.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Until now, recording proceedings was prohibited in most California superior court cases, requiring a licensed reporter to be present in order take down each word that was spoken for the official record.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Because his own education had been prohibited, his children’s was extremely important to him.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
State laws on the subject vary considerably, with some prohibiting commercial surrogacy and others liberally permitting it and even issuing parentage orders before birth.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
When it comes to elections, most states have laws prohibiting election betting in some form or fashion, according to a Pew Research Center analysis released in June.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
MLB added a regulation in 2023 expliciting prohibiting that kind of behavior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Last year, Ocean City, Md., passed a beach regulation prohibiting visitors from bringing tents and limiting the size of shade structures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
A stinging editorial in the school newspaper, the Permian Press, applauded a new rule prohibiting Pepettes from placing candy in players’ lockers every Friday.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
