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:
A typical under-handed tactic they use is to prohibit parking in beach lots unless you show proof of residence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 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
The agency says it lacks authority to prohibit the practice, but will “deploy enforcement resources” when it spots companies that don’t follow its disclosure standards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
U.S. hacking laws prohibit individuals and companies from launching cyberattacks.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
“It’s to prohibit you from making a profit. You cannot have a giant garage sale when it’s over.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
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
Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of religion, race, sex and national origin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
It prohibits prominent display of individual fare components and requires the full price to be shown up front, “including in the first instance following an itinerary search,” according to a Department of Transportation document.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Today Title IX, the 1972 civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal money, has transformed women’s and girls’ athletics.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 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
But China's top economic planning body said in April that it prohibited the deal, and required "the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction".
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Under the bill, prohibited addictive features include autoplay and feeds that display recommended content.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
It notes that such weapons are prohibited under Section 5 of the Firearms act, and reports the footage is being reviewed by Metropolitan Police.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Dürer was only partly successful: It was decided that Raimondi could continue copying Dürer’s work, but he was prohibited from also copying the artist’s distinctive monogram.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
The Constitution of the United States, only recently ratified, specifically prohibited the Congress from passing any law that abolished or restricted the slave trade until 1808.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
When it comes to elections, most states have laws prohibiting election betting in some form or fashion, according to a Pew Research Center analysis released in June.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
Defence lawyer Mohamed Sakr said in court that the order prohibiting Ahmed from assaulting, threatening, stalking or intimidating his father had been accepted without admissions, according to national broadcaster ABC.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Earlier this month, the New York state court System sent out a memo, prohibiting anyone in their courthouses from wearing the devices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Brussels could take a risk-based approach, prohibiting features it views as harmful rather than banning platforms like Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Back in the 1930s, warden Lewis Lawes had upset the inmate population by prohibiting the popular practice of tending rabbits.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
