ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prevented

v.
B1 Intermediate US //pɹiˈvɛnɪd// UK //pɹɪvˈɛntɪd// pre·vent·ed

v. to stop something from happening or to stop someone from doing something. You use this when you act before a problem starts.

v. to keep from happening or existing; to hinder or stop an action by advance preparation or intervention.


SIMPLE

The new lock prevented the thief from entering the house.

CONTEXTUAL

Heavy rain prevented the construction crew from finishing the roof before the weekend.

COMPLEX

The swift intervention of the central bank prevented a total collapse of the currency, though it could not stop the subsequent rise in inflation.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and frequently follows the pattern 'prevent someone from doing something'.

Pitfall

The rain prevented me to goThe rain prevented me from goingThe verb 'prevent' is followed by the preposition 'from' and a gerund, not a 'to' infinitive.

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