prevent
[ pri-vent ]
/ prɪˈvɛnt /
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verb (used with object)
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder: He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
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.
OTHER WORDS FOR prevent
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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
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Origin of prevent
synonym study for prevent
1. 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 WORDS FROM prevent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use prevent in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for prevent
prevent
/ (prɪˈvɛnt) /
verb
(tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
(tr often foll by from) to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
(intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance
(tr) archaic to anticipate or precede
Derived forms of prevent
preventable or preventible, adjectivepreventability or preventibility, nounpreventably or preventibly, adverbWord Origin for prevent
C15: from Latin praevenīre, from prae before + venīre to come
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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