protect
pruh-TEHKT
Protect (verb) means to keep someone or something safe from harm or damage. Example: “Thick walls protect the old castle from storms and cold winds.”
verb
1
To keep someone or something safe from harm or damage.
"to protect a child from danger"
"Thick walls protect the old castle from storms and cold winds."
"But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea."
— William E. Carter, The British Longitude Act Reconsidered (2012)
"A helmet helps protect your head while cycling."
"Parents naturally want to protect their children from danger."
"This antivirus package will protect your computer from hackers."
How to use protect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo keep something or someone from being hurt, damaged, or lost.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
protect against
protect from harm
protect the environment
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- protects
- Past tense
- protected
- Archaic forms
- protectest, protectedst, protecteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Thick walls _____ the old castle from storms and cold winds.
Etymology
From Latin prōtēctus, past participle of prōtegere, "to cover in front" — from prō- ("in front of") plus tegere ("to cover.")
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “protect” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “protect”?
“Protect” is pronounced pruh-TEHKT (/pɹəˈtɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “protect” in a sentence?
Here is “protect” used in a sentence: “A helmet helps protect your head while cycling.”
What is another word for “protect”?
Words with a similar meaning to “protect” include shield and beshield.
What part of speech is “protect”?
“Protect” is a verb.
Where does the word “protect” come from?
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.").
Is “protect” a common word?
“Protect” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between protect and defend?
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.
What is an example of protect?
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.
What is the opposite of protect?
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.
What are ways to protect something?
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.
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