prevent
Use Prevent in a sentence
verb (used with object)
1.
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder: He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
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)
6.
to interpose a hindrance: He will come if nothing prevents.
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Prevent
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to flee; abscond: |
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin praeventus (past participle of praevenīre to anticipate), equivalent to prae- pre- + ven- (stem of venīre to come) + -tus past participle suffix
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin praeventus (past participle of praevenīre to anticipate), equivalent to prae- pre- + ven- (stem of venīre to come) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
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
Synonyms
1. obstruct, forestall, preclude, obviate, thwart. 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.
1. obstruct, forestall, preclude, obviate, thwart. 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.
Antonyms
1. help, assist.
1. help, assist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To prevent
Collins
World English Dictionary
prevent (prɪˈvɛnt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (often foll by from) | |
| 1. | (tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action |
| 2. | to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede |
| 3. | (intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance |
| 4. | archaic (tr) to anticipate or precede |
| [C15: from Latin praevenīre, from prae before + venīre to come] | |
| pre'ventable | |
| —adj | |
| pre'ventible | |
| —adj | |
| preventa'bility | |
| —n | |
| preventi'bility | |
| —n | |
| pre'ventably | |
| —adv | |
| pre'ventibly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
prevent
early 15c., "to act in anticipation of," from L. præventus, pp. of prævenire "come before, anticipate, hinder," in L.L. also "to prevent," from præ "before" + venire "to come" (see venue). Originally literal; sense of "anticipate to hinder" was in L., but
not recorded in English until 1550s. Preventive in the medical sense is recorded from 1640s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
He should do more to prevent that from ever happening.
They add that therapies designed to prevent this from happening during drug use could one day help to thwart chemical dependency.
Run a thin knife around edge to help prevent cracking.
We can only imagine what kind of pressure was brought to bear to prevent me from speaking on such short notice.
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