prevented

USAGE SUMMARY

"prevented" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that was stopped or impeded from occurring. For example, "The engineer prevented the bridge from collapsing by reinforcing its structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One former Alton Towers employee explained that the Smiler could have up to five cars moving around the track at once and a "block system" run by sensors prevented two cars entering specific sections at the same time.

The Guardian

The result is a consumer financial-protection agency that's prevented from overseeing one of the most common, and most important, financial products that consumers buy.

The Economist

A judge accepted Whelan's offer to submit his passport and imposed conditions that prevented the executive from leaving the city for more than eight consecutive days without communicating his absence.

The Guardian - Sport

David Cameron was only prevented by a failed vote in the Commons from taking us into the war in Syria in support of the US.

The Guardian

"They had huge arguments but they settled on a system that prevented us from becoming too radical in either direction and forced us to deal with each other".

The Guardian

Karlheinz Förster had an excellent match in the middle of the defence but Felix Magath and Norbert Eder were consistently outnumbered in midfield and Matthaeus's duties in staying goalside of Maradona prevented him from supporting attacks in his usual way.

The Guardian - Sport

"However, the review is not the appropriate authority to draw any conclusions as to whether the earlier provision of lifejackets would have prevented this loss of life," it read.

The Guardian

Had Sporting gone 4-at-the-back at kickoff, could they have prevented their 2-1 loss?

The Guardian - Sport

By March 2005, only a short, sharp shock - and the dramatic reorganisation that followed - could have prevented a further descent into apathy and the chronic acceptance of underachievement.

The Guardian

What prevented the strike from halting the attack on the industry was none of these things.

The Guardian

After a frantic opening, in which only a well-timed intervention from Hugo Campagnaro prevented Carlos Tévez from putting Mirko Vucinic through on goal, Inter gradually took control of the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevented", consider whether a stronger verb like 'averted' or 'thwarted' might more precisely convey the intended nuance, especially in situations involving danger or deliberate opposition.

Common error

Avoid using "prevented" without a clear subject performing the action. Ensure the sentence clarifies who or what prevented something. For example, instead of "The accident was prevented", specify "Safety measures prevented the accident."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prevented" is that of a past participle verb, often used in passive voice constructions. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its role in expressing that an action or event was successfully stopped or hindered. For example, "The disaster was prevented by early intervention."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "prevented" functions as a past participle verb, commonly used to express that something was stopped from happening. As Ludwig AI confirms, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts, particularly news and formal communications. When writing, ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what performed the action of preventing. Consider using synonyms like "averted" or "stopped" to add nuance. With a high frequency of use and a wide range of authoritative sources, "prevented" is a versatile and reliable term in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopped

A general term for ceasing an action or event.

averted

Suggests warding off an imminent danger or negative outcome.

blocked

Emphasizes the obstruction of a path or progress.

halted

Indicates a sudden stop or cessation.

impeded

Highlights the slowing down or hindering of progress.

thwarted

Implies frustrating or defeating someone's plans or efforts.

obstructed

Similar to 'blocked' but can also refer to abstract obstacles.

forestalled

Indicates acting in advance to prevent something.

precluded

Suggests making something impossible or excluding it.

deterred

Implies discouraging someone from doing something through fear or doubt.

FAQs

How is "prevented" typically used in a sentence?

"Prevented" is used to indicate that an action or event was stopped from happening. For example, "The new security system "prevented" the theft".

What are some alternatives to using the word "prevented"?

Alternatives to "prevented" include "averted", "stopped", or "blocked", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "prevented from happening"?

Yes, it is correct to say "prevented from happening". This phrasing emphasizes that something was stopped before it could occur.

What's the difference between "prevented" and "avoided"?

"Prevented" implies stopping something from occurring, while "avoided" suggests steering clear of something that might cause harm or difficulty. For instance, one might say, "The barrier prevented the car from falling", and "He avoided the traffic jam by taking a different route".