verb
prevent
prih-VENT/prɪˈvent/
To stop something from happening or someone from doing something.
The adult prevents the glass from falling by catching it at the table's edge.
Etymology
“Come before” first suggested acting ahead of someone or anticipating an event. That anticipation developed into stopping something before it could happen.
In context
utilize skills that hopefully prevent it from happening at all because people are not going to be able to prevent a relapse if they can't see it coming.
More examples
- Heavy rain prevents us from playing outside.
- The locked gate prevented anyone from entering the yard.
- Clear instructions are useful for preventing mistakes.
Forms
prevent · prevents · prevented · preventing
prevention noun — The act of keeping something from happening.
preventive adjective — Intended to keep something unwanted from happening.