prevent
verb (used with object)
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.
prevents
-
present tense formof prevent (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
The script’s air of inevitability prevents it from mustering up much suspense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
The system prevents people who register with it from accessing gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
“I don’t think France prevents them from hiking again, but I do think it limits the extent to which they’re willing to hike,” said Mike Bell, head of market strategy at RBC BlueBay Asset Management.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
First, pursuing a side project or structured hobby prevents what Ibarra calls the “work-role merger,” the dangerous fusing of one’s identity entirely with a single employer or job title.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
British grammarians will concede that sometimes the extra comma prevents confusion, as when there are other ands in the vicinity: I went to the chemist, Marks & Spencer, and NatWest.
From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author
