# forbade

/fɝˈbeɪd/ (US) · /fəbˈeɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forbade
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the past tense of forbid. It means that someone in charge told you that you were not allowed to do something.

For teachers: the past tense of 'forbid'; indicates that an authority figure or law prohibited a specific action.

## Examples

- My parents forbade me from staying out past midnight.
- The school rules strictly forbade the use of mobile phones during lessons to ensure students remained focused.
- Although the treaty forbade the construction of new warships, several nations exploited legal loopholes to modernize their existing fleets under the guise of routine maintenance.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He forbade me to go" but "He forbade me from going" — While 'forbid to' is used in the present tense, the past tense 'forbade' more naturally pairs with 'from' plus a gerund in modern usage.

## Usage notes

- The past tense of 'forbid'. It is transitive and frequently followed by an object and a prepositional phrase starting with 'from'.

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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.