B1 to stop something from happening or someone from doing something:
[ + -ing verb ] His disability prevents him (from) driving.
More examples
- The police seem to be powerless to prevent these attacks.
- She would go over the accident again and again in her mind, wishing that she could somehow have prevented it.
- A block in the pipe was preventing the water from coming through.
- Fierce winds prevented the race from taking place.
- The law has done little to prevent racial discrimination and inequality.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
