prevent
HighNeutral, suitable for all registers from informal to highly formal.
Definition
Meaning
To stop something from happening or someone from doing something.
To hinder or make impossible through prior action; to take precautionary measures against a possible undesirable outcome. In some contexts, especially in law or formal usage, it can mean to render something impossible.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies taking proactive measures before an event occurs. It can take a direct object (prevent something) or be followed by 'from + -ing' (prevent someone from doing something). There is subtle semantic overlap with 'avoid' (which is more about keeping away from) and 'prohibit' (which is about formally forbidding).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor differences in collocational preferences (e.g., 'preventative' vs. 'preventive' see below).
Connotations
Identical in both variants.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
PREVENT + NP (prevent an accident)PREVENT + NP + from + -ing (prevent him from leaving)PREVENT + NP + -ing (less common, but acceptable: prevent him leaving)PASSIVE: be prevented from + -ing (He was prevented from attending.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The new software is designed to prevent data breaches."
Academic
"The study aimed to identify factors that prevent the successful implementation of the policy."
Everyday
"Wear a helmet to prevent a serious head injury."
Technical
"The safety valve is installed to prevent over-pressurisation of the vessel."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council installed speed bumps to prevent accidents.
- Can anything prevent a no-deal Brexit now?
American English
- The vaccine helps prevent the spread of the disease.
- A court order prevented the company from selling the product.
adverb
British English
- The medicine was given preventively to the at-risk group.
- The system works preventatively.
American English
- They acted preventively to avoid a crisis.
- The software runs preventatively in the background.
adjective
British English
- Regular exercise has many preventative health benefits. (Also 'preventive')
- The government launched a new preventative programme.
American English
- Preventive maintenance saves money in the long run. (Slightly more common than 'preventative')
- She takes preventive medication.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Wash your hands to prevent illness.
- The lock prevents the door from opening.
- The new law is intended to prevent fraud.
- Bad weather prevented us from having a picnic.
- Early intervention can prevent minor issues from escalating into major crises.
- Nothing could prevent the inevitable collapse of the negotiations.
- The treaty's stringent verification regime is designed to prevent any clandestine development of nuclear weapons.
- His arrogant demeanour often prevents his considerable talents from being fully recognised.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VENT letting out steam. To PRE-VENT is to act BEFORE (pre-) the steam can escape, stopping it.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREVENTION IS A BARRIER/BLOCKADE (e.g., 'build a wall against', 'put a stop to').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'предотвращать' (which is a good fit) and 'препятствовать' (to hinder/obstruct).
- Avoid calquing the structure using 'предотвращать от' – it's simply 'prevent something' or 'prevent someone from doing'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *"I prevented him to go." Correct: "I prevented him from going."
- Incorrect: *"We must prevent that this happens again." Correct: "We must prevent this (from) happening again."
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'prevent' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are synonyms. 'Preventive' is slightly more common, especially in American English and in technical/medical contexts (e.g., preventive medicine), but both are correct.
Yes, when followed directly by a noun or gerund representing the thing being stopped: 'prevent an accident', 'prevent flooding'. Use 'from' when you have an object (person/thing) that is being stopped from performing an action: 'prevent him from leaving'.
'Prevent' is more proactive and often external; you take steps to stop something occurring. 'Avoid' is more about yourself staying away from or not encountering something undesirable. You avoid a puddle; you prevent a flood.
No, it is neutral. It is perfectly appropriate in everyday conversation ('prevent a mess') as well as in formal and technical writing ('prevent contamination').