preclude
Americanverb (used with object)
-
precludes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
precluded,
past participle, past
-
precluding
present participle
verb
-
to exclude or debar
-
to make impossible, esp beforehand
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
preclusionnoun
-
precludableadjective
-
preclusiveadjective
-
unprecludableadjective
-
unpreclusiveadjective
-
preclusivelyadverb
-
unpreclusivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
precludesimple
-
precludessimple
-
have precludedperfect
-
has precludedperfect
-
am precludingprogressive
-
are precludingprogressive
-
is precludingprogressive
-
have been precludingperfect progressive
-
has been precludingperfect progressive
Past
-
precludedsimple
-
had precludedperfect
-
was precludingprogressive
-
were precludingprogressive
-
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
Power Prefix: pre-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
It is also thought a change of job title would not preclude Venter from his contractual responsibilities.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
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
“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
The speed restrictions "effectively precludes" anything connected to the network going above 100mph, Whittington said, making drone navigation difficult within Ukraine and Russian-occupied territory inside Ukraine.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
The local “Happy Hour” regulation makes it difficult for bars to discount drinks and precludes them from delivering more than two drinks to a person at one time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
It feels then something like that classic philosophical paradox of an immovable object encountering an unstoppable force: logically impossible because the existence of one precludes the other.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
Powell sticking it out, even for a few more months, precludes that option.
From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026
I have heard more than a little hissing and roaring through the factory door, but my presently somewhat enervated condition precludes a descent into that particular inferno at the moment.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
But some of them seemed to dispute the defence's claim that postpartum psychosis - a rare post-childbirth condition characterised by mania and depression - precluded Clancy from criminal liability.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
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
The secrecy precluded a medal of honor without a waiver from Congress.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025
It precluded anyone from treating zero as a number.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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
“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
"I don't talk just to hear myself. I'm precluding you from doing this," Engoron said.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2023
“It means,” said Baaz, “that it will be added to your debts. By my own quick calculations, you should be able to pay it back in approximately thirty-five years, precluding interest.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
