for ‧ bid /fəˈbɪd $ fər-/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense forbade /-ˈbæd, -ˈbeɪd/, past participle forbidden /-ˈbɪdn/, present participle forbidding ) [transitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: forbeodan ]
1 . to tell someone that they are not allowed to do something, or that something is not allowed OPP permit
forbid somebody to do something
He was forbidden to leave the house, as a punishment.
forbid somebody from doing something
Women are forbidden from going out without a veil.
strictly/expressly/explicitly etc forbid
The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that someone is not allowed to do something rather than is forbidden to do something:
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He was not allowed to leave the house.
2 . God/Heaven forbid spoken used to emphasize that you hope that something will not happen:
‘Supposing I had an accident.’ ‘God forbid!’
3 . formal to make it impossible for someone to do something SYN prevent :
Lack of space forbids listing the names of all those who contributed.
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THESAURUS
▪ forbid to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed:
His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.
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It is forbidden to say such things.
▪ not allow to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it:
The company does not allow smoking inside the building.
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Mobile phones are not allowed in school.
▪ not let [not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow :
My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.
▪ not permit [usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow :
Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.
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Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.
▪ ban to say officially that people must not do or have something:
Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.
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The book was banned in many countries.
▪ prohibit /prəˈhɪbət, prəˈhɪbɪt $ proʊ-/ to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this:
Acts of vandalism are prohibited.
▪ bar [usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially:
Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.
▪ proscribe formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something:
The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.