# forbidding

/fɝˈbɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /fəbˈɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forbidding
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. prohibiting something

verb · CEFR B2

the act of telling someone they are not allowed to do something.

For teachers: the present participle of 'forbid', indicating the act of refusing to allow something or ordering someone not to do something.

- The school is forbidding students from using their phones during the lunch break.
- By forbidding the publication of the report, the government inadvertently drew more public attention to the controversy it sought to hide.

### 3. a prohibition

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the act of making a rule that stops something from happening.

For teachers: the act of prohibiting or the state of being prohibited; a formal command that stays an action.

- The forbidding of traditional ceremonies led to a lot of anger in the local community.
- The strict forbidding of any outside contact ensured that the experimental group remained entirely isolated from external variables.

## Examples

- The high stone walls looked very forbidding.
- The dark clouds and jagged rocks gave the island a forbidding appearance as the ship approached.
- Despite the forbidding exterior of the old mansion, the interior had been renovated into a warm and welcoming family home.

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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.