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
1
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
1
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 notesIn 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
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Fill the gap
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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".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
What is the meaning of preventing?
"preventing" (verb) means stopping something from happening, or stopping someone from doing something.
What is another word for preventing?
Other words for "preventing" include stopping, blocking, averting, hindering, forestalling.
