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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Recent Examples of prevent
Planting a seed deeper than recommended can delay or even prevent germination.
—
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
The formula is lightweight and non-greasy, with a soft, powdery finish that helps prevent irritation without feeling heavy.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Officials in India are enacting precautions to prevent further spread of the virus, with quarantine and surveillance measures in place.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Some parents think that their role is to prevent every stumble—and who can blame them?
—Janelle Jones, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
The formula is lightweight and non-greasy, with a soft, powdery finish that helps prevent irritation without feeling heavy.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Officials in India are enacting precautions to prevent further spread of the virus, with quarantine and surveillance measures in place.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Some parents think that their role is to prevent every stumble—and who can blame them?
—Janelle Jones, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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Trump also endorsed a Senate deal on government funding that would help avert a shutdown of federal services, according to Reuters.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Gulf states are ramping up diplomatic efforts to avert a US strike on Iran that could spill across the region.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Duke University has sued QB Darian Mensah over his decision to enter the transfer portal, arguing that an NIL contract the school signed with Mensah—who transferred to Duke last year—ought to effectively preclude him from playing college football elsewhere.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Be warned that waiting until after a letter of intent (LOI) is signed often precludes tax mitigation strategies that require long-term structuring.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Start with the bottom branches to avoid adding more weight to lower limbs.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
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Reconciliation, by contrast, allowed Republicans to pass fiscal and revenue-related farm provisions with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster and avoiding a stalemate that could have stretched on for years.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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