prevent Meaning, Definition & Usage

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
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

L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.

imperfect & past participle Prevented; present participle & verbal noun Preventing

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.
To be beforehand with; to anticipate. Obs.
Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. Pope.
To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak.
Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. Milton.

To come before the usual time. Obs.
Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.