preclude
Americanverb (used with object)
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precludes,
present (3rd person singular)
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precluded,
past participle, past
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precluding
present participle
verb
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to exclude or debar
-
to make impossible, esp beforehand
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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preclusionnoun
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precludableadjective
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preclusiveadjective
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unprecludableadjective
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unpreclusiveadjective
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preclusivelyadverb
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unpreclusivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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precludesimple
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precludessimple
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have precludedperfect
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has precludedperfect
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am precludingprogressive
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are precludingprogressive
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is precludingprogressive
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have been precludingperfect progressive
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has been precludingperfect progressive
Past
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precludedsimple
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had precludedperfect
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was precludingprogressive
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were precludingprogressive
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had been precludingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of preclude
First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin praeclūdere “to shut off, close,” equivalent to prae- pre- + -clūdere, combining form of claudere “to shut, close ”
Compare meaning
How does preclude compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
To preclude something is to prevent it from happening. A muzzle precludes a dog from biting. This is a very formal word, but it has a simple meaning: when something is precluded, it can't happen. See the prefix pre in preclude and in prevent? It is signaling that these words are all about things done before another action would happen — to make it impossible. Staying away from water precludes the possibility of drowning, though it also precludes any chance of having fun swimming.
Vocabulary lists containing preclude
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Power Prefix: pre-
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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:
Caine believes that the low inventories wouldn’t preclude a resumption of major combat operations against Iran but would add to the risk, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The match ended in a tie, yet that did not preclude the hundreds of Ecuadorians assembled to wave their flags, dance and continue the festivities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
"This doesn't preclude some relatively minor modification of the fiscal rules to allow somewhat more borrowing for investment, but not for current spending," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
Hallucinations preclude AI autonomy and automation in any high-stakes environment.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
“I rather hope to satisfy you both,” said Emma, “for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Provinces could still favor Canadian suppliers, but cannot have direct language that precludes a US supplier from a project.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
“If the merger does occur, nothing precludes the department from taking an enforcement action in the future if anticompetitive effects are found,” the spokeswoman said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
It also isn’t clear that the Donroe Doctrine precludes interventions outside the Western Hemisphere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
"We are dedicated to serving our community with full transparency; however, the law precludes us from doing so while the court order remains in this case," Dr Ukpo added.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025
“Absolutely. Owls are wise. They are carefu and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
According to the article, the design at the time precluded development on the eagles’ lakefront hunting grounds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
Reading the Westfall Act with close “attention to its text,” he concluded, shows that Congress has not precluded laws like Maine’s.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2026
Comey had asked Currie to dismiss the case “with prejudice,” a move that would have precluded reviving the case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
I could have claimed Austrian retirement on my 65th birthday in 2023, but concerns about the Windfall Elimination Provision interfering with my Social Security benefits precluded this.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 4, 2025
For his part, Charles admitted that Emma had been right when she said that his looking at the world in a scientific way probably precluded him from looking at it in a religious way.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Under the provisions of the 1998 Northern Ireland Act, regulations governing the flag had become "a transferred prerogative matter", precluding Her Majesty's "command on flags … having any legal effect in Northern Ireland".
From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025
Nuzzi intends these as part of a larger mosaic, and while they are occasionally intriguing, they exist as fragments, precluding any possibility of narrative momentum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025
“What they want to do is get people up and running to start building the bank, rather than precluding people at the front end,” Portilla said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025
By comparison, even the best available practical hydrogen storage tanks allow the gas to leak out at a rate of about 1 percent per day, precluding any uses that would require year-long storage, Li says.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2023
Whether one agrees with this approach or not, the building testifies to the strength of Wright’s vision by precluding any other way of seeing the art.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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.
