as in to avert
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevent
An army official said recent drone strikes destroyed an RSF battalion and more than 50 armored vehicles in West Kordofan, preventing advances toward North Kordofan and el-Obeid.
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ABC News,
24 June 2026
Authors on the study found that COVID vaccines were roughly 55% effective in preventing hospitalizations associated with the illness and about 50% effective in decreasing trips to emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Food safety can prevent both short-term illness and long-term complications.
—
Julie Scott,
Verywell Health,
24 June 2026
Plant cover crops in the fall to prevent erosion, build up organic matter, and improve soil texture to help maintain moisture when the extreme temperatures arrive.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Authors on the study found that COVID vaccines were roughly 55% effective in preventing hospitalizations associated with the illness and about 50% effective in decreasing trips to emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Food safety can prevent both short-term illness and long-term complications.
—
Julie Scott,
Verywell Health,
24 June 2026
Plant cover crops in the fall to prevent erosion, build up organic matter, and improve soil texture to help maintain moisture when the extreme temperatures arrive.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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The deal averts a ballot referendum that backers from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said would’ve reigned in expansive local real estate taxes.
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The catastrophies that our heroine averts are awfully small potatoes — a bulldozer running amok, an amusement park ride speeding out of control, some prankish teenagers scheming to turn the girl’s shower into a steambath.
Verb
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The new agreement says commercial vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without charge, but does not preclude future fees imposed by Iran.
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The new agreement says commercial vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without a charge, but does not preclude future fees imposed by Iran.
Verb
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To avoid a deluge of applications from every theater in America, Cockrum decided to make grants by invitation.
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Refrain from entering water that may have electricity in it and avoid walking through floodwaters.
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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