Synonyms

prevent

American

[pri-vent] / prɪˈvɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.

He intervened to prevent bloodshed.

Synonyms:

thwart, obviate, preclude, forestall, obstruct

Antonyms:

assist, help
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.

verb (used without object)

to interpose a hindrance.

He will come if nothing prevents.

prevent British

/ prɪˈvɛnt /

verb

(tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
(intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance
archaic (tr) to anticipate or precede

"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

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of prevent

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin praeventus “anticipated,” past participle of praevenīre “to anticipate,” equivalent to prae- pre- ( def. ) + venīre “to come”

Explanation

The verb prevent means "to keep something from happening," like when you use a complicated password to prevent hackers from accessing your account. Prevent comes from the Latin word praeventus, meaning "to act in anticipation of," like when you shovel the icy, snow-covered sidewalk to prevent people from falling. Prevent can also mean "to make impossible," like when a school locks the doors during a dance to prevent kids from leaving without their parents knowing.

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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:

prevent prevents prevented preventing

If your doctor decides that you could have been exposed to rabies, treatment may include a series of rabies vaccination shots, which will prevent rabies symptoms, illness and death.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Neil Shand, the chief executive of the Scottish Beef Association, said the decision is "the most logical way forward to prevent trade complications."

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Fund managers used limited partnerships, taking advantage of a 1977 law that was actually designed to prevent those partners from paying self-employment taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"France's fiscal package would prevent the deficit from reaching 6.5 percent of GDP next year, but it would not stabilise public debt," analysts at ING said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

That might not sound like a long time, but it was enough to keep cars and trains from crashing, prevent people from being trapped in elevators, and give others time to scramble to cover.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Because Plant Armor physically prevents insects from feeding on the plants, Olawuyi said the technology could also reduce the amount of conventional pesticides needed in agricultural fields.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

“Rejection of a settlement supports prices because disruption risk remains unresolved, while evidence that significant volumes are still moving prevents the market from pricing a complete supply shutdown,” says Naeem Aslam from Zaye Capital Markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Reports online suggest the company's agreement with Capcom prevents Constantin from setting its films in the same timeline as the games.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

That, the whistleblower account warned, could lead to a “catastrophic failure” that prevents millions of Americans from voting.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

Beijing refuses to allow defectors to make claims for asylum and prevents the office of the U.N.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

The 18 large leaks Buckley mentioned fixing account for more than 142,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide prevented from entering the atmosphere, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The UAE has launched an investigation into a possible "terrorist" link, while Netanyahu said "another 9/11-style crash" had been prevented.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

The flooding prevented half the airline operator’s workforce from reaching Suvarnabhumi Airport, which led to delays and cancellations, he notes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"I salute these heroes," he said of the passengers, adding "they prevented a major disaster".

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

But even though his deafness prevented him from hearing Merrithew crying out for help, he knew his coworker and friend was in the building and in serious trouble.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

According to Dr. Ibáñez, the findings point toward a potentially different approach to preventing cardiovascular disease.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

Cornell launched a task force aimed at preventing sexual assault on campus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Another new law will enhance access to drugs known as PrEP and PEP, which are aimed at preventing HIV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Antonia also notes an appetite for more strength training workouts among younger clients, adding: "I think people are now realising the importance of it - we're preventing osteoporosis and things like that."

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Hazel suspected that Strawberry’s talking had the real purpose of preventing his own questions.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023