forbid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forbid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a prohibition or restriction against an action or behavior. Example: "The school policy will forbid students from using their phones during class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So far, we've been spared any plugs for athletes' personal sponsors because the Olympic branding rules forbid them (to keep the field clear for overall advertisers such as Coca Cola and Adidas).

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet nearly all advertising for sanitary products encourages us to hide this chunk of our lives – three thousand days for most women – by preventing leaks that might embarrass us and everyone else; by ensuring we don't, God forbid, smell of menstrual blood; by putting menstruation behind locked doors and safely enclosed in euphemism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Furthermore (and Dacre would have been proud of this line), "the ABC has an endless list of progressive journalists and hosts sharing their perspectives and an absence of hosts or programmers who are mainstream or, heaven forbid, conservative".

The Guardian - Opinion

Would football – heaven forbid – need to end? "You should never think it'll be for ever; we're constantly changing Football Focus," he says.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"When they forbid a Tatar, especially one of such status as Dzhemilev, to enter Crimea … it's interpreted as the start of bigger repressions".

The Guardian

Could they even - heaven forbid! - be sold on eBay?

The Guardian - Film

To incentivise house builders to actually build houses (god forbid), section 106 payments and community infrastructure levy will be waived.

The Guardian - Arts

And what will be the hosts' back-up plan if Chris Robshaw – heaven forbid – injures himself between now and mid-September and leaves them short on the openside flank?

The Guardian - Sport

Everyone from Tony Abbott to Beyonce must publicly declare their allegiance to women out of fear of being labelled a misogynist, or heaven forbid, causing offence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Six hours after Tyson and Douglas climbed into the ring, the men who control boxing returned to the Dome to forbid it.

The Guardian - Sport

"The most practical way of tackling tax evasion... would be simply to forbid cash transactions above €100.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forbid" when you want to express a formal or authoritative prohibition. For example, "The rules forbid the use of mobile phones during the exam."

Common error

Avoid using "forbid" in very casual conversations where alternatives like "not allowed" or "can't" are more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "I forbid you from going", consider "You can't go."

Linguistic Context

The verb "forbid" functions primarily to express prohibition or the act of disallowing something. It is used to indicate that an action or behavior is not permitted, often by someone in authority or by a rule. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forbid" is a versatile verb used to express prohibition or disallowance, frequently appearing in news and formal contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its correct usage, emphasizing its role in setting boundaries. While grammatically sound, consider the register when using "forbid", opting for more casual alternatives like "not allowed" in informal settings. Semantically related phrases include "prohibit", "ban", and "disallow", each offering a nuanced way to express the act of preventing something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibit

Implies a formal or legal ban.

ban

Suggests a strong, often public, prohibition.

disallow

Indicates a refusal to allow something.

restrict

Limits or controls access or action.

interdict

Signifies a formal prohibition, often legal or ecclesiastical.

proscribe

Denotes a formal condemnation or banishment.

preclude

Makes something impossible or prevents it from happening.

veto

Uses the power to reject or prohibit a decision.

inhibit

Slows down or prevents an activity or process.

enjoin

Directs or orders someone to do or refrain from doing something.

FAQs

How to use "forbid" in a sentence?

Use "forbid" to indicate a prohibition or restriction. For example, "The law "forbids" smoking in public places." You can also use it in a more emphatic way like "God "forbid"!" to express strong aversion.

What can I say instead of "forbid"?

You can use alternatives like "prohibit", "ban", or "disallow" depending on the context. Each alternative conveys a slightly different nuance of preventing or disallowing something.

Which is correct, "forbid to do" or "forbid from doing"?

Both forms are acceptable, but "forbid from doing" is more common. For example, "The rules "forbid" students from using their phones" is more frequently used than "The rules "forbid" students to use their phones."

What's the difference between "forbid" and "prevent"?

"Forbid" implies a formal prohibition or command, while "prevent" suggests stopping something from happening. For instance, "The sign "forbids" parking" means it is prohibited, whereas "The barrier "prevents" access" means it physically stops access.