forbid
v.v. to tell someone they are not allowed to do something or that something is not permitted. You use this when there is a rule or a law against an action.
v. to command against an action or to prohibit something by authority. Often used in formal or legal contexts to indicate a strict ban.
The school rules forbid students from using phones in class.
My doctor decided to forbid any strenuous exercise until my heart rate returned to a normal level.
While the treaty does not explicitly forbid the development of such technology, it creates significant diplomatic hurdles for any nation attempting to do so openly.
From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan (“to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul”), from Proto-Germanic furibeudaną, from furi + *beudaną. Equivalent to for- (“from, away”) + bid (“to offer, proclaim”). Cognate with Dutch verbieden (“to forbid”), German verbieten (“to forbid”), Danish forbyde (“to forbid”), Norwegian Bokmål forby (“to forbid”), Swedish förbjuda (“to forbid”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (faurbiudan). Related to forbode.
The verb is transitive. It typically follows the pattern 'forbid someone from doing something' or 'forbid someone to do something'.
The law forbids to smoke hereThe law forbids smoking hereWhen 'forbid' is used without a personal object, it is followed by a gerund (-ing) rather than an infinitive.