prevented; preventing; prevents
1
: to keep from happening or existing
steps to prevent war
3
: to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
4
archaic
a
: to be in readiness for (something, such as an occasion)
b
: to meet or satisfy in advance
c
: to act ahead of
d
: to go or arrive before
: to interpose an obstacle
preventer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of prevent in a Sentence
Seatbelts in cars often prevent serious injuries.
Can exercise and a healthy diet prevent heart disease?
The accident could have been prevented.
He grabbed my arm to prevent me from falling.
Bad weather prevented us from leaving.
How are you going to prevent him from finding out about the party?
Recent Examples on the Web
Advanced moisture sensing: This setting is designed to adapt drying times to your garments, which helps prevent over-drying.
—
Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
Among the main reasons preventing the large-scale adoption of AI tools in the production pipeline is that resulting works are not eligible for copyright protection.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2024
Thereafter, funding should adjust every two years to maintain pay at least at the mark of No. 25 nationally, subject only to specific determination by the state that actual financial inability prevents compliance in that particular year.
—Paul Novack, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2024
Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential race, also suggested that Biden and the Justice Department launched a prosecution to prevent him from winning reelection.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevent 
Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
Among the main reasons preventing the large-scale adoption of AI tools in the production pipeline is that resulting works are not eligible for copyright protection.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2024
Thereafter, funding should adjust every two years to maintain pay at least at the mark of No. 25 nationally, subject only to specific determination by the state that actual financial inability prevents compliance in that particular year.
—Paul Novack, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2024
Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential race, also suggested that Biden and the Justice Department launched a prosecution to prevent him from winning reelection.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prevent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prevent
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevent. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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