prevented; preventing; prevents
1
: to keep from happening or existing
steps to prevent war
3
: to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
4
archaic
a
: to be in readiness for (something, such as an occasion)
b
: to meet or satisfy in advance
c
: to act ahead of
d
: to go or arrive before
: to interpose an obstacle
preventer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of prevent in a Sentence
Seatbelts in cars often prevent serious injuries.
Can exercise and a healthy diet prevent heart disease?
The accident could have been prevented.
He grabbed my arm to prevent me from falling.
Bad weather prevented us from leaving.
How are you going to prevent him from finding out about the party?
Recent Examples on the Web
Once Trump withdraws America’s aegis over these allies, what is to prevent old hostilities from resurfacing, from enmities between Germany and France or Germany and Poland to lingering resentments between the Japanese and Koreans?
—
Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
In the current proposal for land possession there, private land prevents the Crow from visiting many of these sites without permission from the landowner.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2024
As Assad’s government teetered on the brink of collapse, Hezbollah stepped in decisively to safeguard the regime and prevent the emergence of a new regime in Damascus that would be hostile to the axis.
—Renad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
But much of its route runs along East Washington, an arterial managed by Wisconsin, and the state transportation department prevented Madison from making the entire BRT lane bus-only during rush hour.
—David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevent 
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Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
In the current proposal for land possession there, private land prevents the Crow from visiting many of these sites without permission from the landowner.
—Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2024
As Assad’s government teetered on the brink of collapse, Hezbollah stepped in decisively to safeguard the regime and prevent the emergence of a new regime in Damascus that would be hostile to the axis.
—Renad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
But much of its route runs along East Washington, an arterial managed by Wisconsin, and the state transportation department prevented Madison from making the entire BRT lane bus-only during rush hour.
—David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevent
Dictionary Entries Near prevent
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevent. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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