prevent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb keep from happening or arising; make impossible
    forbid; preclude; foreclose; forestall.
    • My sense of tact forbids an honest answer
    • Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project
  2. verb stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
    keep.
    • We must prevent the cancer from spreading
    • His snoring kept me from falling asleep
    • Keep the child from eating the marbles

WordNet


Pre*vent" transitive verb
Etymology
L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Prevented; present participle & verbal noun Preventing
Definitions
  1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. Obs.
    We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thess. iv. 15.
    We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. Bk. of Common Prayer.
    Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. Prior.
  2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. Obs.
    Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.
  3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak.
    Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.
Pre*vent" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come before the usual time. Obs.
    Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.

Webster 1913