forbid

verb for·bid \ fər-ˈbid , fȯr- \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: forbid in a Sentence

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.

—

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

Earlier international laws warned against it: the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, and later, the 1979 Moon Agreement, forbid nations on Earth to claim to cosmic resources.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "Should We Be Really Be Mining in Space?," 5 May 2018
The amendment also forbids any two dispensaries from being 1,000 feet from each other.

— kathleen mcwilliams, Courant Community, "Wethersfield Considering Application To Open Medical Marijuana Dispensary," 10 Apr. 2018
Other platforms quickly followed suit; now, nearly all of the web’s most trafficked sites forbid cryptocurrency advertising.

— louise matsakis, WIRED, "The Cryptocurrency Industry Might Actually Benefit From an Ad Ban," 4 Apr. 2018
For this and other reasons, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums forbids member institutions from breeding for white lions and other genetic abnormalities.

— National Geographic, "Rare White Lion Cub Seen in South Africa," 27 Mar. 2018
Most Catholic dioceses, including Northwest Indiana and Chicago, forbid parishioners from eating meat on Ash Wednesday.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Bakeries plan for big paczki sales on Fat Tuesday," 12 Feb. 2018
But many asylum seekers come to the United States with children in tow — and federal law forbids the government from imprisoning migrant children for longer than 20 days.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Renews Call for Deporting Refugees Without Due Process," 5 July 2018
Naval regulations forbade more than 12 lashes with a cat-o’-nine-tails, but on one occasion Wilkes had 50 meted out.

— erik lacitis, The Seattle Times, "‘All indulged’: Puget Sound’s wildest Fourth of July party was its first one — in 1841," 3 July 2018
The ordinance forbade parking in residential areas.

— douglas belkin, WSJ, "Get That Truck Out: A Town’s Pickup Ban Runs Into Blowback," 1 July 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.