prevent
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder: He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
to hinder or stop from doing something: There is nothing to prevent us from going.
Archaic. to act ahead of; forestall.
Archaic. to precede.
Archaic. to anticipate.
to interpose a hindrance: He will come if nothing prevents.
Origin of prevent
1synonym study For prevent
Other words for prevent
Opposites for prevent
Other words from prevent
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use prevent in a sentence
Infectious diseases are (a) infectious and (b) preventable with a simple shot.
D.C. Moron Phil Gingrey Spread Ebola Fever Over Immigrants | Kent Sepkowitz | July 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTragically, as we deliberate, another day of preventable carnage will come and go.
Currently, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses are limited in scope.
Twisted Anti-Vaxxer Parents Choose Fatal Diseases Over Autism | Elizabeth Picciuto | July 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOverdose deaths have now become the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control ranks the potentially preventable deaths across all 50 states.
One of These 5 Things Will Probably Kill You | Abby Haglage, Brandy Zadrozny | May 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Much of the damage is preventable through properly constructed boxes.
Our National Forests | Richard H. Douai BoerkerSymptoms unfavourable, and ultimate collapse preventable only by speedy change of scene.
Flaming June | Mrs. George de Horne VaizeyBut the black fogs of London are mist soaked with preventable coal smoke; their evils have been recognised from the first.
Impressions And Comments | Havelock EllisHence, from various preventable causes, the vast numbers of young unmarried women crowding public places of resort.
Imperfect lighting of rooms in which children study or play is one of the chief among these preventable causes.
The Physical Life of Woman: | Dr. George H Napheys
British Dictionary definitions for prevent
/ (prɪˈvɛnt) /
(tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
(tr often foll by from) to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
(intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance
(tr) archaic to anticipate or precede
Origin of prevent
1Derived forms of prevent
- preventable or preventible, adjective
- preventability or preventibility, noun
- preventably or preventibly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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