What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prohibiting
Example
The law prohibits smoking in public places. [prohibits: verb]
Example
The company has a policy prohibiting employees from using their phones during work hours. [prohibiting: present participle]
forbidding
Example
I forbid you from going out after midnight. [forbid: verb]
Example
The teacher issued a forbidding warning against cheating on the exam. [forbidding: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prohibiting is more common than forbidding in everyday language, especially in legal or official contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prohibiting and forbidding?
Prohibiting is generally considered more formal than forbidding, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
