prevent
11 synonyms and 0 antonyms for prevent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To stop something from happening, or to keep someone from doing something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use prevent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin praevenire, "to come before, to anticipate," from prae- ("before") + venire ("to come").
Full origin of prevent →Frequently asked questions
What does “prevent” mean?
The word “prevent” means to stop something from happening, or to keep someone from doing something. In plain terms, to stop something from happening before it does.
How do you pronounce “prevent”?
“Prevent” is pronounced prih-VEHNT (/pɹɪˈvɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “prevent” in a sentence?
Here is “prevent” used in a sentence: “Regular exercise can help prevent heart disease.”
What part of speech is “prevent”?
“Prevent” is a verb.
Where does the word “prevent” come from?
The word “prevent” comes from Latin. From Latin praevenire, "to come before, to anticipate," from prae- ("before") + venire ("to come").
Is “prevent” a common word?
“Prevent” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'prevent' and 'avoid'?
'Prevent' means to stop something from happening at all, often by acting on the situation — locking a door prevents theft. 'Avoid' means to keep yourself away from something or refrain from doing it — you avoid a bad road by taking another. You prevent an event; you avoid an experience.
What is an example of preventing something?
Washing your hands prevents the spread of germs; a seatbelt prevents injury in a crash; a fence prevents animals from straying. In each case, an action is taken beforehand so that an unwanted event does not occur. Prevention always works ahead of the problem, not after it.
What is the opposite of 'prevent'?
The opposite of 'prevent' is to allow or bring something about. Antonyms include 'permit', 'allow', 'enable', 'encourage', and 'cause'. Where preventing stops an event, permitting lets it happen and causing makes it happen. So to prevent a fire is the reverse of allowing or starting one.