prevent
verb (used with object)
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.
have been preventing
-
present perfect progressiveof prevent.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Harry’s aunt and uncle have been preventing such dispatches from reaching the young wizard-to-be, but the boarding school’s messenger owls are having none of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026
In 2014, there were governmental regulations, imperfect though they may have been, preventing pharmaceutical companies from filling their gelcaps with sawdust, or public-school teachers from filling their lesson plans with Holocaust denialism.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 7, 2020
"Our research is showing those technologies have been preventing crashes, so this shows that the government agrees that this is worth promoting to the public."
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2015
First, it kept firm income higher than it would have been, preventing some firms from going out of business.
From Economist ● Jan. 22, 2014
Besides, I have been preventing your talk with our friends.
From The Fortunate Youth by William John Locke
