prevent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions taken to stop something from happening or to hinder a particular outcome. Example: "To prevent accidents, always wear your seatbelt while driving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dr Etienne Krug, the WHO's director for injury prevention has said that there are simple preventive actions that can easily prevent such permanent damage – without stopping you enjoying yourself.

The Guardian

In April, Chafee told the Washington Post that Clinton's vote for the Iraq war should prevent her from becoming president.

The Guardian

Anelay said: "The government believes the most effective way to prevent refugees and migrants attempting this dangerous crossing is to focus our attention on countries of origin and transit, as well as taking steps to fight the people smugglers who wilfully put lives at risk by packing migrants into unseaworthy boats".

The Guardian

But he takes a slightly more pragmatic view on contraception, believing that it can be permissible to prevent the spread of disease.

The Guardian

Next, he pointed out that full nationalization of a financial institution might trigger systemic shocks, as investors retreated from other banks, creating exactly the kind of panic that nationalization was intended to prevent.

The Economist

It is not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands; to restrict a student's ability to move around the West Bank; or to displace Palestinian families from their home.

The Economist

MARIA CAULFIELD, 40 TORY, LEWES A nurse at the Royal Marsden hospital in London, where she is a research sister leading a team in breast cancer research, Caulfield is also an owner and shareholder of Lewes football club and a non-executive director of the local housing charity BHT Sussex, which works to prevent homelessness.

The Guardian

Arsenal did win the second leg of the last-16 tie 2-0 in Munich but it was not enough to prevent the away-goals exit.

The Guardian - Sport

· Secondary education was reduced in Turkmenistan by one year, prompting human rights groups to complain of a deliberate attempt to dumb down the population to prevent dissent.

The Guardian

Now the Home Office is once again increasing the number of local authorities involved, alongside controversial plans to place a duty on universities, schools and local authorities to "prevent people from being drawn into terrorism", through an amendment to the counter-terror and security bill, which is at the Lords report stage.

The Guardian

Saunders, who has previously managed Wrexham, Doncaster and Wolves, finished the season in interim charge of Crawley but was unable to prevent them from being relegated to League Two.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevent", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action or outcome is being prevented. Clarity is key to effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using the wrong preposition after "prevent". The correct form is typically "prevent [something] from [happening/doing]". For example, "prevent him from leaving", not "prevent him to leave".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prevent" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being stopped or hindered. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and widely usable. Examples from Ludwig show it used to stop negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevent" is a highly versatile and grammatically sound verb, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to describe actions taken to stop something from happening, as highlighted by numerous examples found on Ludwig. It maintains a neutral register and is frequently used across diverse fields such as news, business, and general discussions. Understanding its function and avoiding common errors, such as misusing prepositions, ensures clear and effective communication. Consider alternatives such as "stop", "avoid", or "preclude" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop

A direct synonym for "prevent", indicating the act of halting something.

avoid

Suggests steering clear of something to ensure it doesn't occur.

preclude

Implies making something impossible or preventing it by taking action beforehand.

avert

Emphasizes turning away or deflecting something negative.

forestall

Suggests acting in advance to prevent something from happening.

deter

Implies discouraging someone or something from acting.

mitigate

Focuses on lessening the severity of something, often harm or damage.

impede

Indicates hindering or obstructing something's progress.

block

Suggests creating an obstacle to stop something.

obviate

Means to remove the need or necessity for something.

FAQs

How to use "prevent" in a sentence?

Use "prevent" to indicate stopping something from happening. For instance, "Regular exercise can "help prevent" heart disease".

What can I say instead of "prevent"?

You can use alternatives like "stop", "avoid", or "preclude" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "prevent from" or "prevent to"?

"Prevent from" is the correct construction. For example, "This measure will "prevent from happening"." "Prevent to" is grammatically incorrect.

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

"Prevent" implies stopping something from occurring, while "avoid" suggests steering clear of something to not encounter it. You "prevent accidents" by implementing safety measures, and you "avoid dangerous situations" by being cautious.