To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

1. 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 Dictionaryadverb

   • 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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