ban

¹ban

verb \ˈban\

bannedban·ning

Definition of BAN

transitive verb

1

archaic : curse

2

: to prohibit especially by legal means <ban discrimination>; also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of <ban a book> <ban a pesticide>

3

: bar 3c <banned from the U.N.>

intransitive verb

archaic : to utter curses or maledictions

Examples of BAN

1. The school banned that book for many years.
2. The city has banned smoking in all public buildings.
3. The drug was banned a decade ago.
4. The use of cell phones is banned in the restaurant.

Origin of BAN

Middle English bannen to summon, curse, from Old English bannan to summon; akin to Old High German bannan to command, Latin fari to speak, Greek phanai to say, phōnē sound, voice

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to BAN

Synonyms: forbid, bar, enjoin, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe

Antonyms: allow, let, permit, suffer

Related Words: deter, discourage, dissuade; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress; halt, preclude, prevent, stop; embargo, exclude, rule out, shut out; debar, deprive, disallow, reject, repudiate, veto; bridle, check, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain; block, hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms: approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; authorize, license (also licence), warrant; abet, advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, nourish, nurture, promote, support; bid, command, order; abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, tolerate

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BAN

an, bran, can, clan, Dan, fan, flan, Jan, Klan, man, pan, Pan, panne, plan, scan, Shan, span, tan, van, Van