Showing results for prevent. Search instead for xnxx prevent.

Synonyms

prevent

American

[pri-vent] / prɪˈvɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to keep from occurring; avert; hinder.

He intervened to prevent bloodshed.

Synonyms:

thwart, obviate, preclude, forestall, obstruct

Antonyms:

assist, help
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.

prevent British

/ prɪˈvɛnt /

verb

(tr) to keep from happening, esp by taking precautionary action
to keep (someone from doing something); hinder; impede
(intr) to interpose or act as a hindrance
archaic (tr) to anticipate or precede

"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

Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

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- ( def. ) + venīre “to come”

Explanation

The verb prevent means "to keep something from happening," like when you use a complicated password to prevent hackers from accessing your account. Prevent comes from the Latin word praeventus, meaning "to act in anticipation of," like when you shovel the icy, snow-covered sidewalk to prevent people from falling. Prevent can also mean "to make impossible," like when a school locks the doors during a dance to prevent kids from leaving without their parents knowing.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing prevent

"Handle with Care"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Search Is Over: Synonyms for "Stop"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

1.7.B Using Ice to Keep Orange Groves Warm

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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:

prevent prevents prevented preventing

Whether this was the correct course of action, and whether the decision was influenced by wanting to prevent the grand prix finishing under caution, will remain a subject for debate.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Earlier this month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei advocated for a slowdown of AI development to prevent harmful behaviors from AI models.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Beutner had structured Proposition 28 precisely to prevent this supplanting of funds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

"We are demanding that this decree-law be enacted, to protect the right to housing and prevent evictions," said Carlota, a 29-year-old protester who spend the night among the tents set up in the touristic square.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Who could prevent more people from falling under Soviet control?

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

“Rejection of a settlement supports prices because disruption risk remains unresolved, while evidence that significant volumes are still moving prevents the market from pricing a complete supply shutdown,” says Naeem Aslam from Zaye Capital Markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

The First Amendment prevents government censorship, but one reason there are social penalties, including criticism, shunning and firing for hateful rhetoric, is that it is not, in fact, harmless.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

“There is no evidence that any multi-cancer detection testing prevents cancer, consistently detects it at an earlier stage, or reduces cancer-associated mortality,” two researchers wrote in the Lancet this week.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

The moisture in the air prevents the body from efficiently sweating which is needed to regulate the body’s temperature, Benmarhnia said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

She feels Geak bounce slightly on her back as she catches her balance and prevents herself from a fall in the mud.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

"This was collaborative problem-solving which prevented any further issues for the young seal and for road users."

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

After Thursday's announcement, Hearn said Joshua's contract specifically prevented White and American sports entertainment company TKO from having a promotional role, claiming Netflix had not been made aware of that provision.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

They welcome the announcement since the continuing legal case may have prevented some investors taking a position.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Roberts noted that injuries prevented the Sparks from picking up any momentum during the season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

These early equation-laws were extremely good at expressing simple relationships, but equations have limitations—their constancy, which prevented them from being universal laws.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Yet preventing cheating is only the beginning of the conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Another new law will enhance access to drugs known as PrEP and PEP, which are aimed at preventing HIV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

While there is a need for more homes, house-building levels are flatlining due to "major barriers" preventing their construction, it said.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

The researchers say the findings highlight the importance of preventing infections that can be transmitted to a fetus during pregnancy.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Ordinary people became aware of the importance of cleanliness in preventing infection.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023