prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
prohibits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prohibited,
past participle, past
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prohibiting
present participle
verb
-
to forbid by law or other authority
-
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
-
was prohibitingprogressive
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were prohibitingprogressive
-
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:
But the court order did not prohibit a sale or termination of the trust, lawyers for Janie and Joey argue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Federal medical privacy laws generally prohibit institutions from sharing patient information, and the center's website says it requires callers to provide a code determined by the patient.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Crucially, he said, the tort suit wouldn’t prohibit the companies from engaging in any conduct; it only requires the companies to pay for some of the damage that conduct causes.
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
The studio is set to pay $17.5m into the WGA health fund, cover legal fees, and prohibit writer layoffs at CBS News Broadcast for five years.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
The only exception he would make is for people whose religious beliefs prohibit tissue donation.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
Aubry noted she last spoke to her brother a day after the alleged September incident and that he did not seem upset, and that the current restraining order prohibits her from contacting her brother.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Another federal law prohibits voter intimidation, with up to a yearlong prison sentence for anybody who intimidates, threatens, or coerces somebody else with the purpose of interfering with another person’s right to vote.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
EFL regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
They read the text of the First Amendment and see that it prohibits Congress from making any law that impairs the free exercise of religion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
The following year, Mexico forbids further American colonization of Texas and prohibits the importation of more slaves into the territory.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
According to the order reviewed by The Times, Berry is prohibited from contacting Martinez, 60, and their son Maceo beyond the terms of her August 2023 split-custody agreement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
As the value of broadcast rights for college football and basketball skyrocketed into the billions of dollars, college-sports rules still prohibited athletes from capitalizing on their fame.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Commercial logos, banners and tent-like structures are also prohibited.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Star running back Jadan Baugh squatted such an astronomical number—600 pounds—that the conditioning staff prohibited him from throwing any more weight on the machine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
For the abolitionists, Congress prohibited slavery in the new state of California and the slave trade was banned in the capital District of Columbia.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Raman said she had used the phrase “gold standard” to describe Special Order 40, which was issued by Gates in 1979, prohibiting officers from stopping people for the sole purpose of determining their immigration status.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
That is why preventing hazing requires more than prohibiting particular behavior or responding after the fact.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Due to recurrent health problems, he is currently under house arrest rather than in a cell, but he has had restrictions imposed on him prohibiting him from posting on social media or making public statements.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Former Heisman-winning QB Jayden Daniels issues cease-and-desist letter to LSU prohibiting the school from using his name, image and likeness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
A court order prohibiting further contact between Bebe and her daughter without the McCulloughs’ unlikely consent.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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