Definitions and Examples of prevent, prohibit, forbid
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To stop something from happening before it occurs.
Example
Wearing a seatbelt can prevent serious injuries in case of an accident.
To officially forbid or disallow something.
Example
Smoking is prohibited in public places to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
To order someone not to do something; to make something illegal.
Example
Parents may forbid their children from watching TV until they finish their homework.
Key Differences: prevent vs prohibit vs forbid
- 1Prevent means to stop something from happening before it occurs, while prohibit and forbid mean to disallow or make something illegal.
- 2Prohibit is an official term that implies a legal or authoritative restriction, while forbid is more commonly used in personal or informal contexts.
- 3Forbid often involves an order or command not to do something, while prohibit is more general and can refer to any kind of restriction.
Effective Usage of prevent, prohibit, forbid
- 1Legal Documents: Use prohibit to indicate official restrictions in legal documents.
- 2Parenting: Use forbid to give clear orders to children about what they are not allowed to do.
- 3Safety Instructions: Use prevent to explain how to avoid accidents or injuries.
Remember this!
The antonyms of let are prevent, prohibit, and forbid. These words convey the idea of stopping or not allowing something to happen. Use prevent to stop something from happening before it occurs, prohibit to indicate official restrictions, and forbid to give clear orders not to do something.
