forbade: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Historical. The past simple 'forbade' and past participle 'forbidden' are more common in formal writing than casual speech, where 'told/ordered not to' or 'didn't allow' are often used.
Quick answer
What does “forbade” mean?
The past tense of 'forbid,' meaning to authoritatively prohibit or order someone not to do something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense of 'forbid,' meaning to authoritatively prohibit or order someone not to do something.
To formally prevent, disallow, or exclude; to make something impossible or unacceptable. Can imply moral or legal authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differs significantly. The spelling is standard. The alternative past tense 'forbad' /fərˈbæd/ is archaic but occasionally seen in UK historical texts.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/conservative in American usage. In British English, it may appear in formal or historical contexts without seeming overly archaic.
Frequency
Low frequency in casual speech for both, with a slight edge in British English due to preservation of formal/literary registers.
Grammar
How to Use “forbade” in a Sentence
Subject + forbade + Object + from + -ing (He forbade them from leaving)Subject + forbade + Object + Noun/Infinitive (She forbade him the house. / The sign forbade us to enter.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forbade” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The headmaster forbade all mobile phones on school premises.
- Common decency forbade him from mentioning her earlier mistake.
American English
- The regulations forbade the construction of any new buildings in the flood zone.
- Her doctor forbade her from drinking coffee after the surgery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The contract forbade any disclosure of the proprietary technology."
Academic
"The university's charter originally forbade the enrollment of women."
Everyday
"My dad forbade me from staying out past midnight."
Technical
"The safety protocol forbade operation of the machinery without a visual inspection."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forbade”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forbade”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forbade”
- Using 'forbidden' as the simple past (e.g., *He forbidden me).
- Pronouncing it as /fɔːrˈbeɪd/ in British English (this is a common learner error).
- Using the wrong preposition: *forbade me going (correct: forbade me from going/forbade my going).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, /fəˈbæd/ (fuh-BAD) is standard. In American English, both /fərˈbæd/ (fur-BAD) and /fɔːrˈbeɪd/ (for-BAYD) are used, with the former being more common in careful speech.
'Forbade' is the standard modern past simple form. 'Forbad' (/fəˈbæd/) is an archaic variant rarely used today, except in historical or poetic contexts.
It is grammatically correct but often sounds formal or literary. In casual speech, phrases like 'didn't allow', 'told me not to', or 'banned' are more common.
'Forbade' often implies a personal or authoritative command from a specific agent (a person, a rule). 'Prohibited' is more neutral, legalistic, and often refers to a formal rule or law without specifying the authority.
The past tense of 'forbid,' meaning to authoritatively prohibit or order someone not to do something.
Forbade is usually formal, literary, historical. the past simple 'forbade' and past participle 'forbidden' are more common in formal writing than casual speech, where 'told/ordered not to' or 'didn't allow' are often used. in register.
Forbade: in British English it is pronounced /fəˈbæd/, and in American English it is pronounced /fərˈbæd/ or /fɔːrˈbeɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Forbidden fruit”
- “God forbade (archaic expression of hope)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FORBADE' has 'BAD' in it. When you are FORBADE from doing something, it's because it's considered BAD.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PHYSICAL BARRIER (She forbade him from entering = She put a barrier in his path).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'forbade' correctly?