Prevent
/prɪˈvent/
Definitions
To stop something from happening; to hinder or obstruct.
/prɪˈvent/
To stop something from happening or someone from doing something.
The government is taking measures to prevent another economic crisis.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're building a wall to keep the rain from getting into your house. Preventing something is like building that wall – you're stopping it from happening. For example, using an umbrella prevents you from getting wet in the rain.
👶 For kids: To stop something from happening. Like using a helmet to prevent a head bonk!
More Examples
Wearing a seatbelt can help prevent injuries in a car accident.
Regular exercise can prevent heart disease.
How It's Used
"Doctors are trying to prevent the spread of the disease."
"The police took action to prevent the protest from turning violent."
"She wears sunscreen to prevent sunburn."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
prevention is better than cure
It is better to stop something bad from happening than to try to fix it after it has happened.
"The company invested in security measures because prevention is better than cure."
From Latin *praevenire* 'to come before, anticipate, hinder', from *prae-* 'before' + *venire* 'to come'.
The word 'prevent' has been used since the 14th century and was originally used in a more general sense of 'to come before' or 'to anticipate'. Its meaning gradually narrowed to its present sense of 'to stop something from happening'.
Memory tip
PRE-VENT: Imagine a fence (VENT) placed before something to STOP it (PRE).
Word Origin
"To come before; to anticipate; to hinder."