verb pre·vent \pri-ˈvent\

: to stop (something) from happening or existing

: to make (someone or something) not do something : to stop (someone or something) from doing something

Full Definition of PREVENT

transitive verb
a :  to be in readiness for (as an occasion)
b :  to meet or satisfy in advance
c :  to act ahead of
d :  to go or arrive before
:  to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
:  to keep from happening or existing <steps to prevent war>
:  to hold or keep back :  hinder, stop —often used with from
intransitive verb
:  to interpose an obstacle
pre·vent·abil·i·ty \-ˌven-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
pre·vent·able also pre·vent·ible \-ˈven-tə-bəl\ adjective
pre·vent·er noun

Examples of PREVENT

  1. Seatbelts in cars often prevent serious injuries.
  2. Can exercise and a healthy diet prevent heart disease?
  3. The accident could have been prevented.
  4. He grabbed my arm to prevent me from falling.
  5. Bad weather prevented us from leaving.
  6. How are you going to prevent him from finding out about the party?

Origin of PREVENT

Middle English, to anticipate, from Latin praeventus, past participle of praevenire to come before, anticipate, forestall, from prae- + venire to come — more at come
First Known Use: 15th century

Synonym Discussion of PREVENT

prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand. prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable <measures taken to prevent leaks>. anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first <anticipated the question by making a statement>. forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course <hoped to forestall the sale>.


Next Word in the Dictionary: preventativePrevious Word in the Dictionary: prevenient graceAll Words Near: prevent
May 28, 2015
fictioneer Hear it
someone who writes fiction
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