prevent

[ pri-vent ]

See synonyms for: prevent prevented preventing prevents on Thesaurus.com

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.

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- + venīre “to come”

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 for prevent

1	obstruct, forestall, preclude, obviate, thwart

See synonyms for prevent on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for prevent

1	help, assist

See antonyms for prevent on Thesaurus.com

Other words from prevent

pre·vent·a·ble, pre·vent·i·ble, adjective
pre·vent·a·bil·ty, noun
pre·vent·ing·ly, adverb
non·pre·vent·a·ble, adjective
non·pre·vent·i·ble, adjective
qua·si-pre·vent·ed, adjective
un·pre·vent·a·ble, adjective
un·pre·vent·ed, adjective
un·pre·vent·i·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prevent in a sentence

By creating these custom firewalls, her company is able to place security in front of the device preventing a hacker from using it as a vehicle to get on the network.
Perigee infrastructure security solution from former NSA employee moves into public beta | Ron Miller | September 17, 2020 | TechCrunch
Having to resort to such hocus-pocus has prevented us from proving that the theory of quantum electrodynamics is mathematically self-consistent.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics | Charlie Wood | September 17, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
This “treatment” can include prescribed burns set under controlled conditions—ideally, spaced out geographically and across the year to prevent overwhelming communities with smoke.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead. | James Temple | September 17, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
If you’re experiencing minor pain or are simply trying to prevent back problems in the future, the recommendations so far may be all you need.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement | Sara Chodosh | September 16, 2020 | Popular-Science
The right Android and iOS shortcut might prevent you from missing your train by helping you send that email faster.
Get around your phone more quickly than you already are | David Nield | September 16, 2020 | Popular-Science

Sometimes, a tech glitch means you are prevented from looking at other users.
My Week on Jewish Tinder | Emily Shire | January 5, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
What hurts the most about your death is that it could have been prevented.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen | Parker Molloy | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
"I think this all could've been prevented if they just listened to the 25,000 people who marched last week," Alvarez said.
Justice League Vigil for Slain NYPD Officers Asks Whose Life Matters | Olivia Nuzzi | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The culture of solidarity for teachers as workers prevented acknowledging some teachers as more accomplished than others.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck | Michael S. Roth | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sudan has been plagued by years of political instability, which has prevented tourism from gaining traction.
Egypt Ain’t The Only Pyramid Show In Town | Nina Strochlic | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Even then the Prime Minister was with difficulty prevented from bowling during forbidden hours.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894 | Various
“Akhab Khan prevented those Shia dogs from shooting you and Mayne-sahib,” went on the low murmur.
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
This he was prevented from doing by Nabal's wife, who came out to meet David with fine presents and fine words.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
On the way he told Sam of the “swell visitors” to the garret, whom Laidlaw had prevented him from going back to see.
The Garret and the Garden | R.M. Ballantyne
An absence of ducats, coupled with the necessity of getting my handicap down to ten, has prevented my speaking ere this.
First Plays | A. A. Milne

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

Origin of prevent

C15: from Latin praevenīre, from prae before + venīre to come

Derived forms of prevent

preventable or preventible, adjective
preventability or preventibility, noun
preventably or preventibly, adverb

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

Browse