verb
deprive
dih-PRYV
verb
1
To take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it.
"The long illness deprived her of the chance to travel that year."
"Solitary confinement deprives prisoners of normal social contact."
How to Use Deprive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop someone having or getting something they need or want.
Common mistake
Always followed by "of" — you deprive someone OF something, not "deprive someone something".
Common pairings
deprive someone of
deprived of sleep
deprive a right
Word Forms
deprived past tense, deprives singular
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The long illness _____ her of the chance to travel that year.
Etymology
From Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare, "to take away as one's own."