prevent someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent someone" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing actions taken to stop someone from doing something. Example: "The new policy aims to prevent someone from accessing confidential information." Alternative expressions include "stop someone," "hinder someone," and "prohibit someone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We could not prevent someone from retiring.

The Guardian

Or to prevent someone (him, perhaps?) from leaving?

The New Yorker

"But I couldn't prevent someone from getting their rights just because I'm afraid of critics.

The Guardian

But what, my children wondered, would prevent someone from taking the cheese without paying?

The New York Times - Travel

"Not to nitpick," he said between mouthfuls, "but what's to prevent someone from entering by air?

The Guardian - Books

"We can't prevent someone from hopping the fence and jumping into the river".

The New York Times

"But I also don't think you should prevent someone from trying to earn a living.

The New York Times - Sports

It's hard to prevent someone from coming home from a bad date and ripping someone a new one.

The New York Times - Magazine

The vaccine will prevent someone from getting it, and possibly reduce the ability of a carrier to spread it.

The New York Times - Health

"I wanted to use communication to prevent someone from relying on a lifetime of humanitarian aid," he said.

The New Yorker

But no state can prevent someone from buying a gun elsewhere and bringing it across state lines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs like "deter" or "thwart" if you want to emphasize the degree of prevention.

Common error

Avoid using "prevent someone" excessively in passive constructions. Active voice often creates stronger, clearer sentences. For example, instead of "Someone was prevented from leaving", write "The guards prevented him from leaving".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent someone" functions as a verb phrase. It describes an action of stopping or hindering a person. Ludwig examples showcase its role in various sentences, confirming its function in preventing actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

29%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevent someone" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase used to describe the act of stopping or hindering a person from doing something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in News & Media, Scientific publications and Wiki articles. When using "prevent someone", clarity and specificity are key to avoiding ambiguity. You can use alternatives such as "stop someone", "hinder someone", and "deter someone" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop someone

A more direct and commonly used synonym.

block someone

A more informal way of saying prevent, often used in digital contexts.

hinder someone

Implies making it difficult for someone to do something.

deter someone

Focuses on discouraging someone through fear or doubt.

obstruct someone

Suggests blocking someone's progress or action.

restrain someone

Implies holding someone back, physically or figuratively.

thwart someone

Implies successfully preventing someone from accomplishing a goal.

inhibit someone

Focuses on suppressing or limiting someone's actions or feelings.

impede someone

Similar to hinder, but suggests a more significant obstacle.

avert someone

To ward off or turn aside someone.

FAQs

How can I use "prevent someone" in a sentence?

Use "prevent someone" to describe actions taken to stop or hinder a person from doing something. For example: "The new security measures aim to prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing the building."

What are some alternatives to "prevent someone"?

You can use alternatives like "stop someone", "hinder someone", or "deter someone" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "prevent someone from" or "prevent someone to"?

"Prevent someone from" is the correct and standard construction. "Prevent someone to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "prevent" and "avoid" when talking about people?

"Prevent" implies stopping someone from doing something, while "avoid" suggests steering clear of someone or a situation involving someone. For example, "The fence prevents people from entering the park after hours," versus "I avoid him because he's always negative."