'Prevent' definitions:

Definition of 'prevent'

(from WordNet)
verb
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" [syn: prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid]
verb
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"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles" [syn: prevent, keep] [ant: allow, let, permit]

Definition of 'Prevent'

From: GCIDE
  • Prevent \Pre*vent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.]
  • 1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. --1 Thess. iv. 15. [1913 Webster]
  • We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us. --Bk. of Common Prayer. [1913 Webster]
  • Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen. --Prior. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Their ready guilt preventing thy commands. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Prevent'

From: GCIDE
  • Prevent \Pre*vent"\, v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'prevent'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Prevent'