Word family noun prevention adjective preventable preventive/preventative verb prevent adverb preventively/preventatively
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpreventpre‧vent /prɪˈvent/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] PREVENTto stop something from happening, or stop someone from doing something The rules are intended to prevent accidents.prevent somebody/something (from) doing something His back injury may prevent him from playing in tomorrow’s game. We were prevented from entering the site. Wrap small ornaments in paper to prevent them being damaged. —preventable adjective preventable diseases Every one of these deaths is preventable.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say stop somebody/something (from) doing something rather than prevent somebody/something (from) doing something:This barrier is to stop people from coming in without a ticket.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
prevent• This week's conference had been superfluous since Sunday's vote to prevent amendments to the policy review documents, he said.• There were reports that some people had been prevented from voting in the election.• To prevent injuries you should always stretch before exercising.• It was only police vigilance which prevented more than the four casualties.• It has been rumored around town today that I left to prevent my being nominated as vice president.• A leg injury may prevent Shearer from playing in tomorrow's game.• The obvious talking point after the game was the deliberate knock-down by David Campese, which prevented the ball reaching Rory Underwood.• Many think that to prevent the demolition of useful residential buildings, theatres and cinemas is equally important.• International pressure should be mobilised much earlier, as it can be effective in preventing this practice.• Can anything be done to prevent this?From Longman Business Dictionarypreventpre‧vent /prɪˈvent/ verb [transitive] to stop something happening, or someone doing somethinggovernment regulators working to prevent fraudprevent somebody/something (from) doing somethingThe region’s huge economic problems will prevent it from realizing its potential.→ See Verb tableOrigin prevent (1400-1500) Latin past participle of praevenire “to come before” 