# deter

/dɪˈtɝ/ (US) · /dɪtˈɜː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deter
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to discourage someone

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone decide not to do something by making them understand the risks or problems.

For teachers: to discourage or dissuade someone from an intended course of action by appealing to fear or highlighting potential negative consequences.

- The high price of the tickets might deter some people from coming to the show.
- The threat of severe legal penalties is intended to deter corporations from ignoring environmental safety regulations.

Usage: Takes a direct object followed by 'from' and a gerund.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'prevent'. While 'prevent' means the action definitely stops, 'deter' often focuses on the psychological effect of making someone change their mind.

### 2. to prevent an action

verb · CEFR B2

to prevent something from happening or to make it less likely to happen.

For teachers: to inhibit or prevent an occurrence by providing a physical or psychological barrier.

- They installed a new alarm system to deter burglars from targeting their home.
- The presence of a permanent security patrol served to deter vandalism in the park during the overnight hours.

Usage: Often used with physical security measures as the subject.

## Examples

- High prices deter many people from buying new cars.
- The strict security measures deter visitors from entering the restricted zone without proper identification.
- The threat of severe economic sanctions was intended to deter the nation from pursuing its aggressive expansionist policies in the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.