# forbid

/fɝˈbɪd/ (US) · /fəbˈɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forbid
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to disallow an action

verb · CEFR B2

to officially say that something is not allowed.

For teachers: to prohibit an action or behaviour by authority or law. Transitive; often followed by a gerund or a 'to' infinitive.

- The school rules strictly forbid students from using their phones during lessons.
- The new environmental regulations forbid the dumping of industrial waste into the local river system, carrying heavy fines for any violations.

### 2. to order someone not to do something

verb · CEFR B2

to tell someone they are not allowed to do something or go somewhere.

For teachers: to command a person or group not to do something or to stay away from a location. Often takes a direct object followed by 'to' and an infinitive.

- Her parents forbid her to go out late on school nights.
- The judge issued an injunction that would forbid the defendant to contact any witnesses involved in the ongoing investigation.

### 3. to make impossible

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to prevent something from happening or make it impossible.

For teachers: to hinder or prevent an occurrence as if by a command; to make something impossible through circumstances.

- The lack of time forbids a longer discussion on this topic today.
- The sheer scale of the project forbids a quick resolution, requiring instead a multi-year commitment from all stakeholders involved.

Usage: Often used with an abstract subject like 'time', 'circumstances', or 'nature'.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.