Link Centre Dictionary

prevent

pre·vent

UK/pɹəˈvɛnt/ US/pɹɪˈvɛnt/ common

verb

1.

keep from happening or arising; have the effect of preventing

  • “My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”
Synonyms
2.

examine in order to test suitability

  • “screen these samples”
  • “screen the job applicants”
Synonyms
Antonyms

Origin

From Middle English preventen (“anticipate”), from Latin praeventus, perfect passive participle of praeveniō (“to anticipate”), from prae (“before”) + veniō (“to come”).

Phrases

  • prevent defense

Related words

Word family

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.