prevent

pre·vent

verb \pri-ˈvent\

Definition of PREVENT

transitive verb

1

archaic

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

2

: to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding

3

: to keep from happening or existing <steps to prevent war>

4

: 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

Related to PREVENT

Synonyms

avert, forestall, head off, help, obviate, preclude, stave off

Related Words

anticipate, provide; negate, neutralize, nullify; save; baffle, balk, checkmate, deter, foil, frustrate, thwart; bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), retard, stall; deflect, fend (off), stop, ward (off); avoid, circumvent, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun; forbid, inhibit, prohibit; arrest, check, halt, stop; compensate (for), counteract, counterbalance, make up (for), offset

Near Antonyms

abet, aid, assist; ease, facilitate, smooth, unclog; advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote; allow, leave, let, permit

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>.

Rhymes with PREVENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent