# prevent

Pronunciation: say "pri-VENT" /pɹɪˈvɛnt/

## Verb

1. To stop a particular event from happening, or to stop a particular person or thing from doing something.
   - Simple: To stop something, usually something bad, from happening, or to keep someone from doing something.
   - _Regular maintenance prevents costly breakdowns later on._
   - _The new policy is designed to prevent fraud across all departments._

## Verb

2. To take measures in advance; to act so that trouble is avoided before it arises. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To act early so that trouble is stopped before it begins.
3. To be beforehand with someone or something; to anticipate and act before another can. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To act on something before another person gets the chance.
4. To come before something in time; to precede or go ahead of it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To come before something else in time, going ahead of it.
5. To surpass or outdo another, exceeding them in skill, merit, or degree. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To do better than someone or something else.

## Origin

Latin praeveniō ("I anticipate") is made of prae ("before") and veniō ("I come"); its perfect passive participle praeventus gave Middle English preventen ("anticipate").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/prevent (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).