protect

The word “protect” means to keep someone or something safe from harm or damage. In plain terms, to keep something or someone from being hurt, damaged, or lost.

“Protect” is pronounced pruh-TEHKT (/pɹəˈtɛkt/ in IPA).

Here is “protect” used in a sentence: “A helmet helps protect your head while cycling.”

Words with a similar meaning to “protect” include shield and beshield.

“Protect” is a verb.

The word “protect” comes from Latin. From Latin prōtēctus, past participle of prōtegere, "to cover in front" — from prō- ("in front of") plus tegere ("to cover.").

“Protect” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

To protect is to keep something safe from harm in a general, often preventive way, like a coat protecting you from cold. To defend is to actively resist a specific attack or threat, usually in the moment. Protection can be passive and ongoing; defence implies confronting a particular danger head-on.

A helmet protects your head from injury, a firewall protects a computer from attacks, and parents protect their children from harm. In each case, something acts as a shield or safeguard, keeping a person or thing safe from potential damage, danger, or loss.

The clearest opposites are "harm," "endanger," and "expose." To protect is to keep safe, while to endanger or expose is to leave something open to damage or threat. "Attack" and "neglect" also work as opposites in contexts where safeguarding is deliberately withheld or the thing is left vulnerable.

You can protect physically, with barriers like locks, walls, or helmets; legally, through contracts, patents, or insurance; and digitally, with passwords and encryption. Protection can also be personal, such as watching over someone or shielding them from harm. The common thread is reducing exposure to risk or damage.