prevent

verb

pre·​vent pri-ˈvent How to pronounce prevent (audio)
prevented; preventing; prevents
Synonyms of prevent

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 How to pronounce prevent (audio)
noun
preventable adjective
or less commonly preventible
pri-ˈven-tə-bəl How to pronounce prevent (audio)
preventer noun

Synonyms of prevent

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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
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.
To prevent greasy-looking roots after a day of sightseeing in the sweltering sun, a mini dry shampoo can be a game changer. — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026 Another reason hydrangeas droop is the presence of the sap inside the plant’s stem, which can prevent water from flowing to the hydrangea blossoms after they are cut. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026 Indirect grilling is ideal for large cuts of meat or recipes requiring 20+ minutes, preventing burning while ensuring even cooking. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prevent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prevent was in the 15th century

Rhymes for prevent

See All Rhymes for prevent

Browse Nearby Words

prevenient grace
prevent
preventability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prevent

verb
pre·​vent pri-ˈvent How to pronounce prevent (audio)
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 How to pronounce prevent (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on prevent

Nglish: Translation of prevent for Spanish Speakers

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