Word · CEFR A2 · Frequency #937
prevent
阻止；防止；预防
To stop something from happening or to keep someone from doing something.
- 1.
To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something).
阻止；防止；避免。
阻止；防止；避免。；预防；防止；阻止；妨碍
In use
Washing your hands regularly helps prevent the spread of germs.
The lock on the gate prevented anyone from entering the yard.
A healthy diet and exercise can prevent many diseases.
prevent + noun/pronoun
直接接名词或名词短语，表示防止某事发生。
Regular exercise can prevent many diseases.
定期锻炼可以预防许多疾病。
prevent + object + from + -ing
常用结构，表示阻止某人做某事。
The rain prevented us from going out.
下雨阻止了我们外出。
prevent + noun + (from) + -ing
from 可省略，尤其在美式英语中。
The quick action prevented the fire (from) spreading.
迅速的行动阻止了火势蔓延。
Verb forms
base prevent · third person prevents · -ing preventing · past prevented · past participle prevented
动词形式规则变化
Common mistakes
The medicine prevented him catching the disease.The medicine prevented him from catching the disease.
动词 prevent 后接宾语时，必须使用固定搭配 prevent sb/sth from doing sth，不可省略介词 from。
We should prevent the accident to happen.We should prevent the accident from happening.
prevent 后不能接不定式 to do，而应接 from doing 结构来表达阻止某事发生。
Connections
Collocations
- prevent accidents
- 预防事故
- Wearing a seatbelt can prevent accidents.系安全带可以预防事故。
- prevent disease
- 预防疾病
- Vaccination helps prevent disease.接种疫苗有助于预防疾病。
- prevent conflict
- 防止冲突
- Dialogue can prevent conflict between nations.对话可以防止国家间的冲突。
- prevent disaster
- 防止灾难
- Early warning systems prevent disaster.早期预警系统可以防止灾害。
- prevent further damage
- 防止进一步损害
- We must act quickly to prevent further damage.我们必须迅速行动以防止进一步损害。
- prevent someone from doing something
Learner notes
Memory Tip
pre-提前，vent-风来，提前挡风即阻止。
Context & Register
register: neutral; contexts: 日常对话, 正式写作, 技术说明; note_zh: 通常用于中性或正式场合，适用范围较广。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Words ending in 'vent' share the spelling and generally have the /ɛnt/ sound, but note that 'advent' has primary stress on the first syllable, while 'prevent', 'invent', and 'event' stress the second syllable.
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 4，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.