prevent

[ pri-vent ]

verb (used with object)

1. to keep from occurring; avert; hinder:

   He intervened to prevent bloodshed.

   Synonyms: thwart, obviate, preclude, forestall, obstruct

   Antonyms: assist, help

2. to hinder or stop from doing something:

   There is nothing to prevent us from going.

3. Archaic. to act ahead of; forestall.
4. Archaic. to precede.
5. Archaic. to anticipate.

verb (used without object)

1. to interpose a hindrance:

   He will come if nothing prevents.

prevent

/ prɪˈvɛnt /

verb

1. tr to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
2. troften foll byfrom to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
3. intr to interpose or act as a hindrance
4. archaic.
   tr to anticipate or precede

Derived Forms

• preˈventable, adjective
• preˌventaˈbility, noun
• preˈventably, adverb

Other Words From

• pre·venta·ble pre·venti·ble adjective
• pre·venta·bilty noun
• pre·venting·ly adverb
• nonpre·venta·ble adjective
• nonpre·venti·ble adjective
• quasi-pre·vented adjective
• unpre·venta·ble adjective
• unpre·vented adjective
• unpre·venti·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin praeventus “anticipated,” past participle of praevenīre “to anticipate,” equivalent to prae- pre- ( def ) + venīre “to come”

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevent¹

C15: from Latin praevenīre, from prae before + venīre to come

Synonym Study

Prevent, hamper, hinder, impede refer to different degrees of stoppage of action or progress. To prevent is to stop something effectually by forestalling action and rendering it impossible: to prevent the sending of a message. To hamper is to clog or entangle or put an embarrassing restraint upon: to hamper preparations for a trip. To hinder is to keep back by delaying or stopping progress or action: to hinder the progress of an expedition. To impede is to make difficult the movement or progress of anything by interfering with its proper functioning: to impede a discussion by demanding repeated explanations.

Example Sentences

Folic acid is to be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour in the UK to help prevent birth defects.

From BBC

Adding folic acid to flour could prevent around 200 cases of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, every year, and improve the health of pregnant women, says the government, which is giving manufacturers until the end of 2026 to conform to the new legal requirement.

From BBC

One of Measure A’s goals is to prevent homelessness, and it allocates more funding to that cause than Measure H did.

From Los Angeles Times

She wrote back describing the apology as "too little, too late" and is now calling for other senior church leaders who failed to intervene to prevent Smyth's abuse to resign: "I just think people of the church, if they see something not going in the right direction, if it needs the police they should go to the police."

From BBC

She said urgent action was needed to prevent closures and the “downward spiral that will cause the arts to lose their impact”.

From BBC

Related Words

• avert
• avoid
• bar
• block
• counter
• forbid
• forestall
• halt
• hamper
• hinder
• impede
• inhibit
• limit
• preclude
• prohibit
• put an end to
• restrain
• restrict
• rule out
• stop