forbid
B2Neutral to formal. More common in writing and formal speech; 'not allow' or 'ban' are more common in everyday conversation.
Definition
Meaning
to command or instruct someone not to do something; to make an action, behavior, or event not allowed.
To prevent, hinder, or make impossible, often through inherent qualities or circumstances. Also used in the phrase 'God forbid' as an expression of strong hope that something will not happen.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an authoritative prohibition or a moral/legal injunction. The past tense is 'forbade' (pronounced /fəˈbæd/ or /fəˈbeɪd/) or 'forbad', and the past participle is 'forbidden'. 'Forbidden' is also used as an adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The past tense form 'forbad' is now archaic and rarely used. Both varieties use 'forbade', but pronunciation varies more in BrE (/fəˈbɑːd/, /fəˈbæd/, /fəˈbeɪd/). The idiom 'God/heaven forbid' is common in both.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both, but perhaps perceived as stronger or more absolute in AmE. In BrE, it can sound slightly old-fashioned or legalistic in everyday use.
Frequency
More frequent in written texts (legal, religious, formal regulations) than in casual spoken language in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] forbids [Object][Subject] forbids [Person] [to-infinitive] (formal)[Subject] forbids [Person] from [gerund][Subject] forbids [Action]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “God/Heaven forbid!”
- “forbidden fruit”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Company policy forbids the use of personal email for client communication."
Academic
"The research ethics committee forbids experimentation without informed consent."
Everyday
"My doctor has forbidden me to eat dairy for a month."
Technical
"The protocol forbids simultaneous write access to prevent data corruption."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The headteacher forbade mobile phones in the classroom.
- The sign forbids entry to unauthorised personnel.
American English
- State law forbids texting while driving.
- I forbid you to see him again, young lady!
adjective
British English
- The Forbidden City is a major tourist attraction.
- Smoking is forbidden in all public buildings.
American English
- Access to the server room is forbidden without clearance.
- They ventured into forbidden territory.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My parents forbid me to watch TV after 9 pm.
- The sign says 'Parking forbidden'.
- The school rules forbid students from wearing jeans.
- I would never forbid you from seeing your friends.
- The contract expressly forbids the sharing of confidential data with third parties.
- Circumstances forbade them from holding the outdoor event as planned.
- A nuanced interpretation of the law does not forbid such actions, though they remain ethically questionable.
- The sheer complexity of the task forbids any simple solution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a parent saying, 'FOR BED! Go to your room!' as a punishment that FORBIDs you from staying up.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A BARRIER (an authority figure places a barrier in front of an action).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'запрещать' as 'forbid' in every informal context; 'not allow' or 'tell someone not to' is often more natural. Do not confuse with 'prevent' (предотвращать). The construction 'forbid someone to do' is correct but formal; 'forbid someone from doing' is also common.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'He forbid me to go' (correct: 'He forbade me...'). Incorrect preposition: 'She forbid me of leaving' (correct: '...from leaving' or '...to leave'). Overuse in casual speech where 'not allow' or 'say no' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'forbid' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Forbid' often implies a personal or authoritative command. 'Ban' suggests an official or legal prohibition, often with public force. 'Prohibit' is the most formal, used primarily in legal and official contexts. 'Forbid' can be used for personal relationships, while 'prohibit' typically is not.
Both are correct, but they have different structures. 'Forbid someone to do something' is a classic pattern. 'Forbid someone from doing something' is also widely accepted, especially in modern usage. The 'from doing' structure is often preferred to avoid the infinitive.
In British English, it is commonly pronounced /fəˈbæd/ or /fəˈbɑːd/. In American English, /fərˈbæd/ or /fɔːrˈbæd/ is standard. The pronunciation /fərˈbeɪd/ (rhyming with 'made') is also heard but is less common and sometimes considered non-standard.
Yes, the passive voice is common: 'I am forbidden to enter,' 'She was forbidden from leaving the country.' The past participle 'forbidden' is used as the adjective form, as in 'forbidden love'.