prevent
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,632 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 11,140 times across 173,643 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- keep from happening or arising; make impossible also: forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid My sense of tact forbids an honest answerYour role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project
- stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state also: keep We must prevent the cancer from spreadingHis snoring kept me from falling asleep
prevent in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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My love was real, but that did not prevent its patronizing complacency being an insult.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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She was laughing, the good lady, but not loud enough to prevent Gilberte from hearing M. de Tregars’ answer.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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A man in his position, if he has character enough to choose, can prevent even his wife's being a nuisance.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
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To prevent which, I fell to making boxes and bags, in order to separate it, having by me near 150lb. weight.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
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The Prince took his place in the kitchen, and sought for an opportunity to prevent the marriage of Dragondel and the Queen.
The Firelight Fairy Book · Henry Beston · Chapter 1