English > prevent: 2 senses > verb 1, socialMeaning | Keep from happening / happening or arising; make impossible. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something |
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Synonyms | forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid |
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Narrower | debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off | prevent the occurrence of |
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inhibit | Limit the range or extent of |
obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass | hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of |
save, make unnecessary | make unnecessary an expenditure or effort |
stop, halt, block, kibosh | Stop from happening / happening or developing |
thwart, queer, spoil, scotch, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk | hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of |
Spanish | estorbar, evitar, impedir, imposibilitar, prevenir, prohibir |
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Catalan | destorbar, evitar, impedir, impossibilitar, prevenir, prohibir |
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Adjectives | preventive, preventative | tending to prevent or hinder |
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English > prevent: 2 senses > verb 2, socialMeaning | Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state. |
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Pattern | Somebody ----s somebody PP; Somebody ----s something PP |
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Model | They prevent him from writing the letter |
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Example | "We must prevent the cancer from spreading" |
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Synonym | keep |
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Narrower | blank | Keep the opposing (baseball) team from winning |
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defend | Be on the defensive |
exclude, keep out, shut out, shut | prevent from entering |
hold | Keep from departing |
impede, hinder | Be a hindrance or obstacle to |
keep away | prevent from coming close |
rain out, wash out | prevent or interrupt due to rain |
restrain | Prevent (someone or something) from doing something |
restrict | Prevent (information) from being circulated or disclosed |
Opposite | let, allow, permit | make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen / happen |
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Similar to | keep | hold and prevent from leaving |
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Spanish | entrabar, evitar, impedir, prevenir |
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Catalan | evitar, impedir, prevenir |
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Adjectives | preventive, preventative | tending to prevent or hinder |
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Nouns | prevention | the act of preventing / preventing |
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