prevent the wedding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent the wedding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or circumstances that stop or hinder a wedding from taking place. Example: "The sudden storm threatened to prevent the wedding from happening as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They wanted to prevent the wedding.

Independent

Mercedes tried to prevent the wedding going forward, including by anonymously threatening Calvin and by cancelling the wedding plans.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A judge on Thursday cleared the way for same-sex marriages to start in New Jersey in two weeks, dismissing the state's request to prevent the weddings until after an appeal of the court decision allowing them is completed.

The New York Times

"Extensive British 'targeting training' has done nothing to prevent the bombing of schools, hospitals and weddings, and the deaths of thousands of Yemeni civilians.

The Guardian

They contended that – although the warrants authorised searches for stolen bicycles, bike parts and computers – the real purpose was to prevent disruption to the wedding.

The Guardian

Karon Monaghan QC, appearing for the bulk of those detained, argued at a May-June hearing that her clients were all pre-emptively arrested under an unlawful policy to prevent disruption to the wedding.

The Guardian

Overall, Keep the wedding small.

WikiHow

Keep the wedding cake simple.

WikiHow

Keep the wedding alcohol-free.

WikiHow

I reel you back in, and try to prevent you from dissecting the wedding planning process so that you remember where you started, and quit losing your mind over the teeniest details.

Huffington Post

Civil courts have the power to issue Forced Marriage Protection orders to prevent weddings from taking place.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevent the wedding", ensure the context clearly indicates what actions or circumstances are intended to stop the wedding from occurring. For instance, specify whether it's legal intervention, personal objections, or external events.

Common error

Avoid using "prevent the wedding" without specifying how the wedding is being prevented. Vague statements lack clarity and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent the wedding" functions as a verb phrase where "prevent" is the verb and "the wedding" is the direct object. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevent the wedding" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe the act of stopping a wedding from occurring. Ludwig indicates that it's a correct phrase to use. Although its frequency is uncommon, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as wiki articles. Related phrases include more direct options such as "stop the wedding" or more nuanced variations like "thwart the wedding", depending on the intended meaning. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the means by which the wedding is being prevented to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop the wedding

Replaces "prevent" with "stop", a more direct and common synonym.

halt the wedding

Uses "halt" to emphasize an abrupt and forceful stop to the wedding.

impede the wedding

Replaces "prevent" with "impede", suggesting a hindrance or obstruction rather than a complete stop.

obstruct the wedding

Similar to 'impede', but focuses on creating obstacles to the wedding's progress.

thwart the wedding

Suggests actively working to frustrate or defeat the wedding plans.

avert the wedding

Implies successfully avoiding an undesirable wedding.

avoid the wedding

Focuses on sidestepping or keeping away from the wedding altogether.

cancel the wedding

Indicates a decision to call off the wedding, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

call off the wedding

An idiomatic expression for cancelling or abandoning the wedding plans.

derail the wedding

Suggests an intentional act of sabotage to disrupt the wedding.

FAQs

What does "prevent the wedding" mean?

The phrase "prevent the wedding" means to stop a wedding from happening, typically by taking actions or creating circumstances that make it impossible or undesirable for the marriage ceremony to proceed.

What can I say instead of "prevent the wedding"?

You can use alternatives like "stop the wedding", "halt the wedding", or "cancel the wedding" depending on the context.

In what situations might someone try to "prevent the wedding"?

People might try to "prevent the wedding" for various reasons, including objections to the marriage, legal impediments, or personal conflicts. Examples include a family member disagreeing with the union, a past relationship resurfacing, or discovering hidden information about one of the partners.

Is "prevent the wedding" a formal or informal expression?

"Prevent the wedding" is a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, the formality of the surrounding language will influence the overall tone. In more formal situations, alternatives like "impede the wedding" might be considered.