To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

prevent

verb

OPAL WOPAL S

/prɪˈvent/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they prevent	/prɪˈvent/ /prɪˈvent/
he / she / it prevents	/prɪˈvents/ /prɪˈvents/
past simple prevented	/prɪˈventɪd/ /prɪˈventɪd/
past participle prevented	/prɪˈventɪd/ /prɪˈventɪd/
-ing form preventing	/prɪˈventɪŋ/ /prɪˈventɪŋ/

jump to other results

to stop somebody from doing something; to stop something from happening
- prevent something/somebody The accident could have been prevented.
- Maddie would have joined the army if an injury had not prevented her.
- The government took steps to prevent a scandal.
- prevent somebody/something from doing something He is prevented by law from holding a licence.
- Nothing would prevent him from speaking out against injustice.
- prevent somebody/something doing something (British English) Nothing would prevent him speaking out against injustice.
Extra Examples
- A good sunscreen will help prevent sunburn.
- These strategies are aimed at preventing crime.
- Action must be swift in order to prevent further damage.
- The drug inhibits the replication of cancer cells, thereby preventing their spread.
- Better intelligence could have possibly prevented the attack.
- The whole affair is an outrage and the authorities have done nothing to prevent it.
- a study to determine whether the brace can reliably prevent knee injuries
- No one can prevent you from attending this meeting.
- There's nothing to prevent these guys from copying our idea.
- They took action to prevent the disease from spreading.
- These barriers completely prevent new companies from entering the market.
- This new legislation effectively prevents us from trading.
- There was nothing to prevent him setting up in business on the premises.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- effectively
- reliably
- successfully
verb + prevent
- be able to
- be unable to
- can
preposition
- from
phrases
- aimed at preventing something
- action to prevent something
- measures to prevent something
See full entry
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense act in anticipation of): from Latin praevent- preceded, hindered, from the verb praevenire, from prae before + venire come.

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See prevent in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee prevent in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: prevent

To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

prevent

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