verb

preventing

pri-VEN-ting

Preventing (verb) means stopping something from happening, or stopping someone from doing something. Example: “Washing your hands regularly helps in preventing infection.”

verb

Stopping something from happening, or stopping someone from doing something.

"Washing your hands regularly helps in preventing infection."

"Nothing is preventing you from applying again next year."

adjective

Acting to stop something before it occurs; used before a noun in phrases about protective measures.

"The report lists preventing factors that reduce the risk of relapse."

How to Use Preventing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStopping something before it can happen.

When to use it

Neutral. "Prevent someone from doing something" is the standard pattern in British English; "prevent someone doing something" is also accepted.

Memory tip

Prevent is usually followed by "from" plus an -ing form: "prevented him from leaving".

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

prevent vs avoid prevent vs protect

Common pairings

preventing crime preventing the spread preventing injury aimed at preventing

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “preventing” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Washing your hands regularly helps in _____ infection.

Etymology

Present participle of prevent, from Latin praevenire "to come before, anticipate", from prae- "before" + venire "to come".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

stopping blocking averting hindering forestalling

Antonyms

allowing enabling causing permitting

Related Words

block prevention stopping blocking enabling licensing permitting aversion

Rhymes for preventing

renting venting lamenting repenting parenting commenting consenting tormenting unrelenting representing experimenting complimenting

See all rhymes for preventing →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between preventing and avoiding?

Preventing means stopping something from happening at all, often for other people as well as yourself. Avoiding means keeping yourself away from something that may happen anyway. A vaccine prevents disease; staying home avoids the crowd.

Is it "prevent him from doing" or "prevent him doing"?

Both are used. "Prevent him from doing" is the safer choice in formal writing and is standard in every variety of English; "prevent him doing" is common in British speech.

People Also Searched

block prevention stopping blocking enabling licensing permitting aversion