Synonyms for prevent
prɪˈvɛntpre·vent

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.8 / 6 votes

1. prevent

   The original sense of prevent, to come before, act in advance of, which is now practically obsolete, was still in good use when the authorized version of the Bible was made, as appears in such passages as, "When Peter was come into the house, Jesus prevented him" (i. e., addressed him first), Matt. xvii, 25; "Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness" (i. e., by sending the blessings before the desire is formulated or expressed), Ps. xxi, 3. Anticipate is now the only single word usable in this sense; to forestall is to take or act in advance in one's own behalf and to the prejudice of another or others, as in the phrase "to forestall the market." But to anticipate is very frequently used in the favorable sense; as, his thoughtful kindness anticipated my wish (i. e., met the wish before it was expressed): or we say, "I was about to accost him when he anticipated me" (by speaking first); or one anticipates a payment (by making it before the time); in neither of these cases could we use forestall or prevent. To obviate (literally, to stop the way of or remove from the way), is to prevent by interception, so that something that would naturally withstand or disturb may be kept from doing so; to preclude, (literally, to close or shut in advance) is to prevent by anticipation or by logical necessity; walls and bars precluded the possibility of escape; a supposition is precluded; a necessity or difficulty is obviated. Prevent, which at first had only the anticipatory meaning, has come to apply to the stopping of an action at any stage, the completion or conclusion only being thought of as negatived by anticipation; the enemy passed the outworks and were barely prevented from capturing the fortress. Compare HINDER; PROHIBIT.

   Synonyms:
   anticipate, forestall, obviate, preclude

   Preposition:
   He was prevented by illness from joining the expedition.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. prevent

   Synonyms:
   hinder, obstruct, bar, neutralize, nullify, thwart, intercept, anticipate, forefend, frustrate, obviate, checkmate

   Antonyms:
   promote, aid, facilitate, expedite, encourage, advance, accelerate, induce, cause, produce

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 3 votes

1. prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbidverb

   keep from happening or arising; make impossible

   "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"

   Synonyms:
   proscribe, rule out, counter, interdict, keep, veto, preclude, forestall, prohibit, foreclose, forbid, nix, anticipate, foresee, close out, disallow

   Antonyms:
   allow, permit, let

2. prevent, keepverb

   stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state

   "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles"

   Synonyms:
   go along, keep on, celebrate, forestall, go on, keep, restrain, hold back, save, hold, hold on, foreclose, retain, forbid, keep back, proceed, maintain, keep open, observe, hold open, preserve, sustain, continue, stay fresh, preclude

   Antonyms:
   permit, let, allow

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. choke (verb)

   stop growth

   plants can be choked by grass, and grass can be choked off by weeds

   Submitted by erhnice on July 28, 2019  

2. choke back (verb)

   fail to control one’s emotions

   they choked back tears (feelings; anger; disappointment, etc.)

   Submitted by erhnice on July 28, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preventverb

   Synonyms:
   obstruct, HINDER, stop, impede, thwart, intercept, interrupt, obviate, preclude, frustrate, forefend, avert

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preventverb

   Synonyms:
   thwart, hinder, obstruct, preclude, obviate, forestall, intercept, avert, parry, deter, frustrate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "prevent":

   preventing, avoid, prevention, avert, preclude, impede, forestall, stop, deter, avoiding, hinder, warn, prevented, prevents, preventive, impeding, prohibit, pre-empt, inhibit, hamper, block, obstruct, avoidance, keep, avoided, discourage, deny, combat

How to pronounce prevent?

How to say prevent in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use prevent in a sentence?

1. Jay Alberts:

   Our hope is by the end of the study, we will be able to use this information to better prevent permanent brain injury, the research completed in this study could have the potential to lead to better development of protective equipment across sports.

2. Benjamin Netanyahu:

   In coming weeks, the powers are liable to reach a framework agreement with Iran, an agreement liable to leave Iran as a nuclear threshold state, as prime minister of Israel, I am obligated to make every effort to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weaponry that will be aimed at the State of Israel. This effort is global and I will go anywhere I am invited to make the State of Israel's case and defend its future and existence.

3. European Commission:

   This will prevent serious and irreparable harm to competition likely to be caused by Broadcom's conduct, which prima facie infringes EU competition rules.

4. President Barack Obama:

   Today's vote in the House of Representatives is the latest indication that the more members have studied the historic deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the more they have come out in support of it.

5. Bassam Tlaib:

   They dont want her to come, they prevent her because they know shes coming here to see in her own eyes with the delegation, the suffering of the Palestinian people and the violation of the occupation on the peoples lives here.