prevent

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To stop something from happening.

   I brush my teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.

2. 2
   verb

   To stop someone from doing something.

   The heavy rain prevented us from going out.

Common collocations

• prevent an attack Verb + noun
• prevent crime Verb + noun
• prevent death Verb + noun

From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“to anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veniō (“to come”).

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