prevent

American  

[pri-vent] / prɪˈvɛnt /

verb (used with object)

1. to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.

   He intervened to prevent bloodshed.

   Synonyms:

   thwart, obviate, preclude, forestall, obstruct

   Antonyms:

   assist, help

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to interpose a hindrance.

   He will come if nothing prevents.

prevent British  

/ prɪˈvɛnt /

verb

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

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Related Words

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

• nonpreventable adjective
• nonpreventible adjective
• preventability noun
• preventabilty noun
• preventable adjective
• preventably adverb
• preventible adjective
• preventingly adverb
• quasi-prevented adjective
• unpreventable adjective
• unprevented adjective
• unpreventible adjective

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.

Example Sentences

But he fears such “silly resolutions” could hurt the development of prediction markets and prevent big investors from adopting them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

"Despite several inaccuracies throughout, it is very important to highlight that at no point did we ever seek to prevent anyone from participating in dialogue with the BBC or participating in the programme."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

It means vaccine developers can now modify the adenovirus protein to prevent this issue and improve vaccine safety.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

Labor union negotiations are scheduled over the weekend as efforts continue to prevent a Tuesday strike that would shut down all schools operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Fact: Companies pump the bag with nitrogen gas to prevent the chips from becoming potato crumbs, proven by my experiment in the third grade.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• avert
• avoid
• bar
• block
• counter
• forbid
• forestall
• halt
• hamper
• hinder
• impede
• inhibit
• limit
• preclude
• prohibit
• put an end to
• restrain
• restrict
• rule out
• stop