Word
preclude
Phoneticspre·clude, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹiˈkɫud/
UK/pɹɪklˈuːd/
AcademicFormal
Definition
v. to prevent something from happening or to make it impossible. You use this when one situation automatically stops another from being an option.
v. to prevent the occurrence of an event or to make an action impossible. Often implies a logical or structural barrier that rules out a possibility.
Examples
“His busy schedule will preclude him from attending the meeting.”
“The existing contract contains several clauses that preclude the company from selling its shares to a competitor.”
“While the initial findings are promising, the small sample size does not preclude the possibility that the results were influenced by external variables.”
Examples
simple
“His busy schedule will preclude him from attending the meeting.”
contextual
“The existing contract contains several clauses that preclude the company from selling its shares to a competitor.”
complex
“While the initial findings are promising, the small sample size does not preclude the possibility that the results were influenced by external variables.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “preclude” in context.
Verb
01. preclude possibility
“The judge's ruling does not preclude the possibility of a future appeal by the defense.”
verb + noun
02. preclude use
“Safety concerns regarding the new chemical compound preclude its use in consumer products.”
verb + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and frequently takes the preposition 'from' followed by a gerund.
Pitfall
preclude to happen
preclude from happening
Preclude is followed by 'from' and an -ing verb, not a 'to' infinitive.
Real-World Examples
“I asked Razer’s spokesperson if the design of optical switches precludes Razer’s optical keyboards from hot-swappability.” “You can only get close enough to make sense of objects at the edges of the space-hogging installation and their tininess precludes emotional or intellectual impact beyond an “a-ha!”.” “Many people, meanwhile, don’t have room for a writer’s room, or live lives that preclude solitude, or just don’t like to sit still.” “Steering requires white-box access, which precludes its application to closed-source APIs.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin praeclūdere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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