prevent

verb

pre·​vent pri-ˈvent 

prevented; preventing; prevents

transitive verb

1

: to keep from happening or existing

steps to prevent war

2

: to hold or keep back : hinder, stop

—often used with from

3

: to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding

4

archaic

a

: to be in readiness for (something, such as an occasion)

b

: to meet or satisfy in advance

c

: to act ahead of

d

: to go or arrive before

intransitive verb

: to interpose an obstacle

preventability

pri-ˌven-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

preventable adjective

or less commonly preventible

pri-ˈven-tə-bəl 

preventer noun

Synonyms

• avert
• forestall
• head off
• help
• obviate
• preclude
• stave off

Choose the Right Synonym for prevent

prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand.

prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable.

measures taken to prevent leaks

anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first.

anticipated the question by making a statement

forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course.

hoped to forestall the sale

Examples of prevent in a Sentence

Seatbelts in cars often prevent serious injuries.

Can exercise and a healthy diet prevent heart disease?

The accident could have been prevented.

He grabbed my arm to prevent me from falling.

Bad weather prevented us from leaving.

How are you going to prevent him from finding out about the party?

Recent Examples on the Web

The late-night host played a series of clips of Trump touting his skills as president, from announcing the Gulf of America to stopping money being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas and preventing transgender mice to winning golf tournaments. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2025

Magnesium blocks these receptors, which can help relieve or prevent pain.6 Magnesium Deficiencies and Pain Low magnesium levels can lead to muscle cramps and pain. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 30 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, other laws increasingly seek to safeguard kids' privacy and prevent social media addiction by also requiring age checks. —ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025

A day head on every deck, modular furniture manufactured in-house by Bilgin, and details like two pop-up televisions in the main salon to prevent squabbles between younger guests. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to anticipate, from Latin praeventus, past participle of praevenire to come before, anticipate, forestall, from prae- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4c

Rhymes for prevent

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event

Kids Definition

prevent

verb

pre·​vent pri-ˈvent 

1

: to keep from happening

prevent accidents

2

: to hold or keep back : hinder, stop

bad weather prevented us from leaving

preventable adjective

also preventible

-ə-bəl