prevent
[ pri-vent ]
/ prɪˈvɛnt /
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.
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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.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for preventable
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 Formspreventable or preventible, adjectivepreventability or preventibility, nounpreventably or preventibly, adverb
Word 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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