prevent
Keep from happening
Prevent means to stop something from happening or someone from doing something.
You prevent accidents, prevent disease, or prevent someone from entering.
The word implies action taken in advance—you can't prevent what has already occurred.
Prevention is the noun: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Prevent by prior action
- precludeMake impossible in advance
- avoidStay away from
- deterPrevent through intimidation
- preemptAct to prevent
deflect · stave off · head off · ward off · fend off · nip in the bud · sidestep · obviate
To obstruct movement
- thwartPrevent success of
- hinderObstruct or delay
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
- stymieTo obstruct or baffle
halt · stop · hamper · inhibit · stall · interfere · frustrate · check
forestall
Prevent by prior action
preempt · deflect · stave off · head off · ward off · fend off · nip in the bud · sidestep · obviate · anticipate
impede
To obstruct movement
stymie · halt · stop · hamper · inhibit · stall · interfere · frustrate · check · disrupt
prohibit
Formally disallow
proscribe · outlaw · veto · interdict · embargo · enjoin · debar · exclude · restrict · criminalize
safeguard
Precaution against harm
secure · preserve · fortify · insulate · immunize · vaccinate · inoculate · fireproof · childproof · waterproof
- keeping outbar, ban, block, lock, fence
- obstructblock, halt, stop, impede, hinder
- preventionflu shot, flu shots, protect, vaccines, avoid
- restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, keep down
- preemptive actionspreemptive strike, forestall, first strike, early action, anticipate
- verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
- abuse preventionStopping mistreatment before occurs
- pollution preventionStopping contaminants at origin
- fire preventionStopping combustion before ignition
- crime preventionStopping offenses before occurrence
- foreclosure preventionStopping bank repossession
- loss preventionProtecting store inventory
prevented, prevention, preventing, prevents, preventive, preventative, preventable, unpreventable, preventer