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prevent

2 syllables
verb
Quick answer

As a verb, prevent means stop (an outcome).

Meanings of prevent

6 meanings

verb

  1. To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something).

    “I brush my teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.”

  2. now rareTo take preventative measures.

  3. Keep from happening or arising; make impossible

    “My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”

    “Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project”

    Similar: forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid
Older and rare meanings (3)

  1. obsoleteTo come before; to precede.

  2. obsoleteTo outdo, surpass.

  3. obsoleteTo be beforehand with; to anticipate.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible
forestallforecloseprecludeforbid
verb: stop (someone or something) from doing something or being…
keep
Oppositeslet

Words that rhyme with prevent

All rhymes →
wentsentmeantspentrenteventpercentaccentrepresenttentkentscentconsentbentcentintent

For word games

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r1
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v4
e1
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Scrabble & Words With Friends: valid word12 points before bonuses.7 letters.
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Nearby words

prevailprevailingprevalenceprevalentprevaricateprevaricationpreventablepreventativepreventionpreventivepreviewprevious