prēˈvent, prə̇ˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English preventen, from Latin praeventus, past participle of praevenire to precede, anticipate, prevent, from prae- pre- + venire to come — more at come
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to anticipate (as an occasion, an appointed time) by preparation or action : be in readiness for
b. archaic : to meet or satisfy (as a question, wish, objection) in advance
c. archaic : to act ahead of (another's action)
d. archaic : to arrive before : precede , outrun
2. archaic : to predispose to repentance and faith by divine grace
3. : to deprive of power or hope of acting, operating, or succeeding in a purpose : frustrate , circumvent
police officials should not prevent police reporters from obtaining the news — Lou Smyth
4. : to keep from happening or existing especially by precautionary measures : hinder the progress, appearance, or fulfillment of : make impossible through advance provisions
one may prevent feeding problems quite as readily as some physical diseases — M.J.E.Senn
authority … and purposefulness of his manner … prevent the role becoming a minor one — E.R.Bentley
5. : to hold or keep back (one about to act) : hinder , stop
had to catch his arm to prevent him falling — Claud Cockburn
— often used with from
there is nothing to prevent us from going
6. obsolete : to hasten the coming of (an event)
7. obsolete : to take possession of or occupy in advance
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to act or come before
2. : to make something impossible
we shall come if nothing prevents
Synonyms:
anticipate , forestall : prevent implies an advance move or provision that blocks the occurrence or possible occurrence of something (as a calamity) or the success of something (as a plan)
the surest way to prevent aggression is to remain strong enough to overpower and defeat any who might attack — D.L.Lawrence
medical science knows how to limit these evils and can do much to prevent their destructiveness — C.W.Eliot
we can cure disease or prevent it — W.W.Howells
anticipate stresses more the foreseeing of something that will or may take place in the future than the provision for handling it or acting appropriately in relation to it
one must foresee, anticipate and ratify this suggestion, which will inevitably occur — Juan Gris
my other architectural friends anticipate a great outburst of postwar activity and world-planning — E.M.Forster
she anticipated that he would also become more exacting in his demands on her time — G.B.Shaw
forestall can mean to stop something from happening or to intercept and stop something in its course, but more usually stresses not a stopping but a rendering of something ineffective or harmless by forehanded action
property owners own out to the edge of the sidewalk, effectively forestalling street widening if they want to — Hal Burton
to forestall every risk and retain every advantage — New Republic
a new warning device to forestall surprise attacks by aircraft — I.I.Rabi
Synonyms:
prevent , preclude , obviate , avert , and ward ( off ) can mean to hinder or stop (something that may occur) or, in the case of prevent and preclude , to stop (someone about to act, or someone's action) prevent implies an insurmountable obstacle or impediment
measures taken to prevent disease
no war was too serious to prevent frequent truces for meals or festivals — R.A.Billington
by solving it he prevents an innocent man going to the gallows — New Books
preclude implies a situation or condition or measures taken that effectively shut out all possibility of a thing's occurring or a person's doing something
provide the mechanism to assure that atomic energy is used for peaceful purposes and preclude its use in war — B.M.Baruch
the brevity of his stay would preclude the possibility of his enjoying the school pageant — C.H.Grandgent
in no way precludes them from having a vital and extraordinary power — Montgomery Belgion
Whereas preclude often suggests the operation of chance, obviate usually implies the use of intelligence or forethought in clearing away (as obstacles) or disposing of (as difficulties)
fruits should be washed in order to obviate hazard to the consumer — R.N.Shreve
by reciprocally extending rights and privileges to one another's citizens … they may obviate jealousies and promote the general well-being — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
a single administrator can do much to obviate the confusion which still exists in this field — H.S.Truman
avert and ward ( off ) always imply the anticipation and deflection or prevention of an approaching or oncoming evil, usually by immediate and effective measures, avert suggesting more active measures to force back, ward ( off ) implying more defensive measures to avoid or counteract
delegates were sent to a peace conference held at Washington in an effort to avert hostilities — American Guide Series: North Carolina
men seeking to avert a revolution they do not understand with weapons they don't know how to wield — H.J.Laski
despite the increased chances for respiratory illness during the winter, there are many things you can do to help ward this off — advt
most of the time he did not feel this, he warded off the possibility of feeling it — Marcia Davenport