prevent
Americanverb (used with object)
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to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.
He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
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to hinder or stop from doing something.
There is nothing to prevent us from going.
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Archaic. to act ahead of; forestall.
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Archaic. to precede.
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Archaic. to anticipate.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
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to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
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(intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance
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archaic (tr) to anticipate or precede
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”
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.
That means the state can’t use this legal route to prevent the prediction-markets platform from operating within its borders.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
And Washington uses a strict network of export controls to prevent China from getting its hands on those powerful chips.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Before departing with a delegation for Shanghai, Cheng told journalists that Taiwan "must do everything in our power to prevent war from breaking out".
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
There is growing demand for treatments that can safely prevent and reverse bone loss over time.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 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
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.
