prevent
//pɹɪˈvɛnt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- prevent
- past (v2)
- prevented
- past participle (v3)
- prevented
- present participle
- preventing
- 3rd person singular
- prevents
Definitions
1.To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something).
- I brush my teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.
- Barriers have been put up to prevent more people (from) entering the stadium.
- Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1152
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”)
From Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“to anticipate”)
From prae (“before”) + veniō (“to come”).