prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
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prohibits,
present (3rd person singular)
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prohibited,
past participle, past
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prohibiting
present participle
verb
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to forbid by law or other authority
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to hinder or prevent
Usage
What’s the difference between prohibit and inhibit? Prohibit most commonly means to forbid or disallow, but it can also mean what inhibit usually means—to prevent or hinder. Inhibit can also mean to forbid, but this use is much less common. Prohibit is most commonly used in the context of rules, especially official ones like laws. The speed limit prohibits you from going above a certain speed. Parents might prohibit their kids from eating candy before dinner, but the word forbid is more commonly used in cases like this. Inhibit, on the other hand, is usually used in the context of things that prevent or hinder what someone is trying to do. Speed bumps are designed to inhibit speeding. A leg injury can inhibit your ability to walk. The meaning of prohibit and inhibit most often overlaps in cases when something is inhibited to the point of almost not being able to happen at all, as in This cast is designed to prohibit movement (prohibit could be replaced with inhibit in this sentence without much or any change in meaning). The adjective form inhibited is often used to indicate that someone or something is held back from full potential. When it’s applied to a person, it usually involves a mental, emotional, or psychological block, as in I feel less inhibited around my new group of friends—they accept me for who I am. The adjective prohibited describes something that’s forbidden, as in The sign lists all of the prohibited activities. Here’s an example of prohibit and inhibit used correctly in the same sentence. Example: To inhibit the acceleration of climate change, we must prohibit any increase in fossil fuel emissions. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inhibit and prohibit.
Synonym Usage
See forbid.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prohibitsimple
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prohibitssimple
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have prohibitedperfect
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has prohibitedperfect
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am prohibitingprogressive
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are prohibitingprogressive
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is prohibitingprogressive
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have been prohibitingperfect progressive
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has been prohibitingperfect progressive
Past
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prohibitedsimple
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had prohibitedperfect
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was prohibitingprogressive
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were prohibitingprogressive
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had been prohibitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prohibit
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibēre “to hold before, hold back, hinder, forbid,” equivalent to pro- pro- 1 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre “to have, hold”; see habit 1
Explanation
If a sign says "Swimming Prohibited," don't go for a dip. It's not allowed. To prohibit is to forbid, or to disallow something. In school, you are prohibited from leaving the premises before the end of the school day. The school administration also prohibits smoking and chewing gum. In 1920, it became illegal to sell alcohol in the United States. This time period when alcohol was prohibited is known as the era of Prohibition. Famously Prohibition did not work. When you prohibit something, you often make it seem more appealing.
Vocabulary lists containing prohibit
The Bill of Rights
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List 14
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The First Amendment of the US Constitution
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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.
See Examples For:
Policymakers or companies could prohibit dangerous uses, require additional controls for autonomous agents or limit deployment in security-sensitive environments.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
There are also federal, state and local laws that prohibit discrimination based upon pregnancy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
TikTok's policies prohibit content that "could lead to physical harm", and the company has removed videos identified by BBC Verify.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
U.S. hacking laws prohibit individuals and companies from launching cyberattacks.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the city to prohibit noise disturbances from all sources.’”
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
And it was then too late to make any changes, because federal law prohibits anyone from being named as primary beneficiary without the spouse’s consent.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Buenos Aires argues that the arrangement breaches Argentine law, which prohibits the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on its continental shelf without government authorization.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Federal law prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcasters, and the First Amendment sharply limits the government’s ability to punish news organizations for their editorial decisions.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
The exchange says it prohibits trading on stolen confidential information, illegal tips and participation by anyone who can influence the outcome of a bet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
I’m just hoping there’s an amendment somewhere in the Constitution that prohibits the FBI from stealing my collection of hardcover fantasy novels.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
The contract manager disputed the claim that the travel was prohibited; the inspector general disagreed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
The owner was said to have been unaware that providing ants in food was prohibited in South Korea, as they are used as food elsewhere.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they targeted 10 vessels that were attempting to cross this prohibited area of the Strait of Hormuz.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
The agency has also prohibited some other uses and imposed workplace protections for others.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
“Isn’t wine prohibited here?” the boy asked “It’s not what enters men’s mouths that’s evil,” said the alchemist.
From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Leaders can take a first step by prohibiting technology during meals, fitness or other routines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
The judge also imposed indefinite non-harassment orders prohibiting the pair from contacting their victim in any way.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The local suppression of abolitionist mail persisted throughout the antebellum era during the administrations of Jackson’s eight successors, none of whom enforced the federal statute prohibiting detention of the mail.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, also made an order "prohibiting" India from carrying out works at two hydroelectric projects that could breach the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
That March, the president issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the federal government on the basis of race, religion, or national origin.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
