Prevent meaning

What does “prevent” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“prevent” is a verb with 2 meanings. Its most common meaning is: keep from happening or arising; make impossible.

prevent

keep from happening or arising; make impossible
“My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”
“Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project”
Synonymsforestall foreclose preclude forbid
stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
“We must prevent the cancer from spreading”
“His snoring kept me from falling asleep”
Synonymskeep
Oppositeslet

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University