protect

verb pro·tect \ prə-ˈtekt \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: protect in a Sentence

Definition of protect

protected; protecting; protects

transitive verb

1 a : to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard

b : defend 1c

protect the goal

2 : to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees: such as

a : to save from contingent financial loss

b : to foster or shield from infringement or restriction

salesmen with protected territories

protect one's rights

; specifically : to restrict competition for (something, such as a domestic industry) by means of tariffs or trade controls

3 : defend 5

protect a lead

intransitive verb

: to provide a guard or shield

protects against tooth decay

—

protectable

play \prə-ˈtek-tə-bəl\ adjective

—

protective

play \prə-ˈtek-tiv\ adjective

—

protectively

adverb

—

protectiveness

noun

See protect defined for English-language learners

See protect defined for kids

Examples of protect in a Sentence

He had no raincoat to protect himself from the rain.
She keeps her jewelry protected in a safe.
You have to protect your business against fraud.
New laws have been passed to protect your privacy.
The forest is protected by federal law.
The high taxes on imported goods are intended to protect domestic producers.
Sunscreen helps to protect against sunburn.
The insurance protects you against flooding.
The insurance does not protect against damage caused by earthquakes.

Recent Examples of protect from the Web

The biggest surprise of the hour was Maeve, communicating with Akecheta in her wounded and subdued state, commanding him to protect her daughter.

— The Atlantic, "Westworld: Ghost Nation, Revealed," 10 June 2018
Meanwhile China is largely seen as still evading the question of gay rights and refuses to protect its LGBT people with legislation.

— ankita chakraborty, Longreads, "A Crocodile In Paris: The Queer Classics of Qiu Miaojin," 8 June 2018
Back then the existing teams could opt to protect nine forwards, five defensemen and a goalie, or seven forwards, three defensemen and two goalies.

— chris korman, For The Win, "We'll always remember the inexplicable and incomparable Golden Knights," 8 June 2018
Everyone else must do everything in their power to protect that player during the match.

— patricia hernandez, The Verge, "Fortnite players are pretending to protect the president, and it’s amazing," 8 June 2018
Some of the women have placed their hands in poses that protect their modesty.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "From the studio to the gallery," 8 June 2018
Armstrong-Ullberg is doing her best to protect this one last plant known to exist on forest preserve property and its habitat.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Will County forest officials secretly preserve rare orchid," 6 June 2018
The couple's company, Magnolia Homes, broke the provision that protects occupants from exposure to dangerous lead levels, which is particularly harmful to children and which many pre-1978 homes contain, as a result from home renovations.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Chip and Joanna Gaines Pay $40,000 EPA Fine for Lead Paint Violations," 6 June 2018
As a parent, there are more tools to protect your child from becoming a character in the spaceship in Wall-E. As a person, an acknowledgment that using your phone all day has serious effects on your life, and a way to help curtail it.

— andrew goble, GQ, "Apple WWDC 2018: The 4 Biggest iPhone Improvements for iOS 12," 5 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of protect

Middle English, from Latin protectus, past participle of protegere, from pro- in front + tegere to cover — more at pro-, thatch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

protect Synonyms

Phrases

stand up for;

Synonym Discussion of protect

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

- defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

- a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

- shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

- White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

- our civil liberties must be safeguarded

PROTECT Defined for English Language Learners

protect

verb

Definition of protect for English Language Learners

: to keep (someone or something) from being harmed, lost, etc.
: to save (someone) from financial loss caused by fire, injury, damage, etc.
sports : to try to stop opponents from scoring at (your goal)

PROTECT Defined for Kids

protect

verb pro·tect \ prə-ˈtekt \

Definition of protect for Students

protected; protecting

: keep from being harmed especially by covering or shielding : guard

Law Dictionary

protect

transitive verb pro·tect

legal Definition of protect

1 : to shield from injury or harm

protecting public health and safety

2 : to secure or preserve against encroachment, infringement, restriction, or violation : maintain the status or integrity of especially through legal or constitutional guarantees

protect a work against copyright infringement

the First Amendment protects speech

3 : to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls

—

protectable

or protectible adjective

Learn More about protect

See words that rhyme with protect Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for protect Spanish Central: Translation of protect Nglish: Translation of protect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of protect for Arabic speakers

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protect

Definition of protect

protectable

protective

protectively

protectiveness

Examples of protect in a Sentence

Recent Examples of protect from the Web

Origin and Etymology of protect

protect Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Synonym Discussion of protect

Phrases Related to PROTECT

Related Phrases

PROTECT Defined for English Language Learners

protect

Definition of protect for English Language Learners

PROTECT Defined for Kids

protect

Definition of protect for Students

Law Dictionary

protect

legal Definition of protect

protectable

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