forbid

1 of 2

verb

for·​bid fər-ˈbid How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
forbade fər-ˈbad How to pronounce forbid (audio) -ˈbād How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
also forbad fər-ˈbad How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
; forbidden fər-ˈbi-dᵊn How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
; forbidding

transitive verb

1
: to proscribe (see proscribe sense 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

forbid

2 of 2

adjective

archaic
: accursed
he shall live a man forbidWilliam Shakespeare
Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

smoking is forbidden in the building

prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Examples of forbid in a Sentence

Verb 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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
One potential obstacle to my Orthodox conversion was that my second husband, Jacob, was a kohen, a member of a priestly male hereditary line going back to the time of Moses, and according to the Talmud kohanim are forbidden to marry converts. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 He was also forbidden from using his likeness to market any other products. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2024 Sylvia was eventually forced to remain in the house and was forbidden from attending school. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024 Dubai is an Islamic city in which state religion forbids the consumption of alcohol, which is widely considered there to be harmful to health and well-being. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forbid 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

Middle English forbidden, from Old English forbēodan, from for- + bēodan to bid — more at bid entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forbid was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near forbid

Cite this Entry

“Forbid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forbid. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

forbid

verb
for·​bid
fər-ˈbid,
fȯr-
forbade
-ˈbad,
-ˈbād
also forbad
-ˈbad
; forbidden
-ˈbid-ᵊn
; forbidding
: to order not to do or to be done or used
I forbid you to go
cameras are forbidden
forbidder noun

More from Merriam-Webster on forbid

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