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- pronunciation:
- prih
vent
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Grammatical Patterns, Word Parts
part of speech: |
transitive verb |
inflections: |
prevents, preventing, prevented |
definition: |
to keep or stop from occurring or from doing something.
Good sanitation can prevent illness to a large degree.The school tries to prevent cheating in various ways.[verb + gerund
]
I can't prevent your leaving college, but I think you'll regret it.[verb + possessive adj + gerund
]
The police prevented the protesters from entering City Hall.They narrowly prevented the ceiling from collapsing.- synonyms:
- avert, deter, forestall, frustrate, hinder, inhibit, preclude, stop
- antonyms:
- allow, enable, let, permit
- similar words:
- anticipate, balk, bar, discourage, foil, forbid, hamper, impede, obviate, prohibit, repress, restrain, thwart
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related words: |
control, cross, inhibit, stop, veto, ward, withhold |
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part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
definition 1: |
to present a hindrance or difficulty.
We'll discuss this later today, unless time prevents.- synonyms:
- hinder
- similar words:
- balk, stop
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definition 2: |
to keep something from occurring (fol. by "against").
This toothpaste is supposed to prevent against tooth decay. |
related words: |
guard |
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derivations: |
preventable (adj.), preventer (n.) |
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