prevent

pre-vent · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    Keep something from happening or arising.

  2. 2.

    Stop someone from doing something.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    prevention is better than cure — It's easier to stop something bad from happening than to fix it afterward.
  • •
    prevent from — Stop someone or something from doing something.
  • •
    crime prevention — Actions taken to stop crimes from occurring.
  • •
    disease prevention — Measures to stop illness from developing.

Related words

Antonyms: allow, cause, enable, permit
See also: allow, block, protection, stop
Synonyms: avert, block, hinder, stop

Etymology

From Latin praevenire ("to come before, anticipate, hinder"), from prae ("before") + venire ("to come").