English > prevent: 2 senses > verb 1, social| Meaning | 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, social| Meaning | 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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