prevented from leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevented from leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is not allowed to exit a place or situation, often due to external circumstances or authority. Example: "The guests were prevented from leaving the venue due to the severe weather conditions outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Other children were also prevented from leaving.

The Guardian

They were prevented from leaving as the waters rose.

The New York Times

Castro – the only witness to the murder – was prevented from leaving Honduras for a month.

The Guardian

Other passengers were prevented from leaving the area where their ship, the Olympic Voyager, was docked.

The New York Times

Some have been prevented from leaving the country and others have had their wages withheld.

The Guardian

ePersian Radio says he was prevented from leaving home this morning.

The Guardian

Only two decades ago, mainland Chinese were all but prevented from leaving the country as tourists.

The New York Times

He said other activists had been prevented from leaving Bahrain to attend the conference in Geneva.

The Guardian

If demonstrators are prevented from leaving, the groups advise remaining silent and asking for a lawyer.

The New York Times

This means the ship is officially prevented from leaving port until the men are paid.

The Guardian - Opinion

GSK China's British finance director, Steve Nechelput, has been prevented from leaving the country.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevented from leaving", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the preventing and the specific location or situation from which departure is being blocked. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vague statements where the reason for being "prevented from leaving" is unclear. Always specify the cause, whether it's a physical barrier, legal restriction, or other circumstance. For example, instead of saying "They were prevented from leaving", specify "They were prevented from leaving due to the road closure" or "They were prevented from leaving by the security guards".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevented from leaving" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that someone or something was stopped or hindered from departing a specific location or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prevented from leaving" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe situations where someone is blocked or hindered from departing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts with a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the cause of prevention for clarity. Alternatives such as ""barred from exiting"" or ""restricted from departing"" can be used to convey slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barred from exiting

Replaces "prevented" with "barred" and "leaving" with "exiting", suggesting a formal prohibition.

kept from exiting

Similar to the original phrase, but uses "kept" instead of "prevented".

restricted from departing

Uses "restricted" instead of "prevented" and "departing" instead of "leaving", indicating a limitation rather than complete prevention.

prohibited from going

Replaces "prevented" with "prohibited" and "leaving" with "going", implying an official ban.

not allowed to exit

Uses a more direct phrasing to convey the lack of permission to leave.

detained from departing

Indicates that someone is being held and unable to leave.

confined within

Focuses on the state of being held inside a place.

held against their will

Emphasizes the involuntary nature of being kept in a location.

forced to remain

Highlights the act of being compelled to stay.

impeded from departure

Suggests that something is hindering their ability to leave.

FAQs

How can I use "prevented from leaving" in a sentence?

You can use "prevented from leaving" to describe situations where someone or something is stopping a person or group from departing a place or situation. For example: "The heavy snow "prevented from leaving" the mountain resort" or "The police "prevented from leaving" the building during the investigation".

What are some alternatives to "prevented from leaving"?

Alternatives include "barred from exiting", "restricted from departing", "prohibited from going", or "not allowed to exit", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "prevented from leaving" and "restricted from leaving"?

"Prevented from leaving" suggests a complete stop to the action of leaving, while "restricted from leaving" implies limitations or conditions on the departure, but not necessarily a complete block.

Is "prevented to leave" grammatically correct instead of "prevented from leaving"?

No, "prevented to leave" is not grammatically correct. The correct usage is ""prevented from leaving"". The verb "prevent" requires the preposition "from" when followed by a gerund (a verb ending in -ing used as a noun).