prevent vs prevent from

Both "prevent" and "prevent from" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Prevent" is used when stating the action that stops something from happening, while "prevent from" is used when mentioning the specific thing that is being stopped.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 2162 views

The word "prevent" is a correct and commonly used verb in English.

"prevent"

Use "prevent" when you want to indicate the action of stopping something from happening. For example, "Regular exercise can help prevent heart disease."

Examples:

Regular exercise can help prevent heart disease.
The lock on the door will prevent intruders from entering.
Wearing a helmet can prevent head injuries.
Good hygiene practices can prevent the spread of germs.
The new security measures aim to prevent cyber attacks.

Show examples from the web [+]

The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection.
... a room) and filtration (trapping particles on a filter to remove them from the air) can help prevent virus particles from accumulating in indoor air.
3 days ago ... prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand. prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable.
2 days ago ... prevent | American Dictionary ... to stop something from happening or someone from doing something: The police tried to prevent him from leaving.
Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation's oldest and largest organization committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens.
You can set your phone to help prevent others from using it if it gets reset to factory settings without your permission. For example, if your protected ...
Consular Services. Border measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). December 28, 2022.

Alternatives:

stop
avoid
deter
hinder
thwart

The phrase "prevent from" is also correct and is used when specifying the thing that is being stopped.

"prevent from"

Use "prevent from" when you want to mention the specific action or event that is being stopped. For example, "The sunscreen prevents your skin from getting burned."

Examples:

The sunscreen prevents your skin from getting burned.
Regular exercise can prevent you from gaining weight.
The new law aims to prevent companies from polluting the environment.
A good education can prevent children from falling into poverty.
Proper maintenance can prevent the machine from breaking down.

Show examples from the web [+]

The family you're so rudely trying to prevent from buying Grayson's building.
Reforestation activities contribute to increase the carbon sink effect of forests and prevent from landslides and desertification, thus contributing to the preservation of a high quality countryside and the environment.
Such coherence is of utmost importance as it is necessary to prevent from using it to support rearmament of the Macedonian Army.
The tension between Iran and Afghanistan shows the sort of long-term risks that we need to prevent from arising in the first place, because once things have started it is too late to turn the clock back.
What exactly does 'prevent from occurring' mean in the digital environment? -
So Bennett painted over it to prevent from getting caught transporting it.
That is the disaster I'm trying to prevent from happening.
No laws prevent from building a pool in this country!
That, I think, is something we must prevent from happening in the future.
The aim of the proposal is also to increase transparency and long-term perspectives, so as to secure gas supply, investment planning and prevent from severe disruptions.
These are all problems that we can prevent from happening in western Europe because we have legislation and a reasonably good inspection system, but the developing countries do not have this sort of legislation.
Due protection of data related to taxpayers, the limited storage period of those data, and the accountability of the data keeper institution or body are key elements to prevent from data mismanagement and/or leakage.
The family you're so rudely trying to prevent From buying Grayson's building.
In this view, the fallout casualties, if any, will be seen as those of unidentified soldiers in the service of humanity, unknown soldiers in a war which has not struck, and which our nuclear power may indeed prevent from ever striking.
What percentage of content on the Internet inciting violence does the Commission estimate that it will be able to remove from the Internet in future or prevent from being spread by implementing the action plan?
Nothing must prevent countries from protecting their population's health.
Licensing procedures often prevent producers from getting copyrights in many countries.
City regulations prevent me from talking about deliveries.
One can always try to create artificial boundaries, technological boundaries which prevent us from sharing files prevent us from sharing music etc.
Paragraph 2 shall not prevent competent authorities from exchanging confidential information.

Alternatives:

keep from
deter from
stop from
avert from
forbid from

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prevent vs prevent from

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