forbid

verb for·bid \ fər-ˈbid , fȯr- \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of forbid

forbade play \fər-ˈbad, -ˈbād, fȯr-\ also forbad play \fər-ˈbad, fȯr-\; forbidden play \fər-ˈbi-dᵊn, fȯr-\; forbidding

transitive verb

1 : to proscribe (see proscribe 2) from or as if from the position of one in authority : command against

The law forbids stores to sell liquor to minors.

Her mother forbids her to go.

2 : to hinder or prevent as if by an effectual command

Space forbids further treatment here.

Modesty forbids telling what my part was in the affair.

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forbidder

noun

See forbid defined for English-language learners

See forbid defined for kids

Examples of forbid in a Sentence

I forbid you to go!
She was forbidden by her parents to marry him.
She was forbidden from marrying him.
The museum forbids flash photography.
The company's rules forbid dating among employees.

Recent Examples of forbid from the Web

Attorney General David Eby said last week that Canada's constitution forbids provinces from discriminating in the distribution of energy and that B.C. would take the necessary actions to defend itself if Alberta followed through.

— kevin orland and natalie obiko pearson, Houston Chronicle, "Oil cutoff threatened as Canadian provinces battle over Kinder pipeline," 17 Apr. 2018
Attorney General David Eby said last week that Canada’s constitution forbids provinces from discriminating in the distribution of energy and that B.C. would take the necessary actions to defend itself if Alberta followed through.

— Bloomberg.com, "Alberta Readies Oil Embargo in Kinder Pipeline Battle," 17 Apr. 2018
Although Pfingst said Collins repaid the district for his card purchases, Schorr noted that district policy expressly forbade tapping the cards for personal expenses.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ousted Poway Superintendent John Collins in pre-trial hearing," 16 Apr. 2018
Since the anti-Rohingya operations, which the military says were in response to terrorist attacks, visas have become harder to obtain for foreign correspondents and reporters are forbidden from accessing many areas.

— jon emont, WSJ, "Myanmar Court Rejects Release of Journalists Investigating Rohingya Crisis," 11 Apr. 2018
This is one of the incidents that AEG complained about to the Justice Department, pointing out that the consent decree specifically forbids Live Nation from threatening to withhold shows from venues that do not hire Ticketmaster.

— ben sisario and graham bowley, New York Times, "Live Nation Rules Music Ticketing, Some Say With Threats," 1 Apr. 2018
His hope was that the Queen, who rarely interfered, would at least not directly forbid it.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Area Monarch Reportedly Gets Mean After ‘Several Martinis’," 20 Mar. 2018
Under Cincinnati's charter, the city manager makes personnel decisions, and the mayor is forbidden from interfering.

— cameron knight, Cincinnati.com, "Who's who in Cincinnati Police mess that has put city manager on hot seat," 9 Mar. 2018
According to the new regulations, believers from mainland China are forbidden to attend unauthorized overseas religious conferences or training, or serious penalties will be imposed.

— Time, "Guerrillas for God: How Hong Kong’s Pastors Are Delivering the Message to China’s Christians," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forbid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of forbid

Middle English forbidden, from Old English forbēodan, from for- + bēodan to bid — more at bid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

forbid Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of forbid

forbid, prohibit, interdict, inhibit mean to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done. forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.