forbid
/fə'bid/
Definition
- Verb:
- To command against; to order not to do something: To use authority to prohibit an action or behavior.
- To prevent or make impossible; to exclude the possibility of: To act as a barrier that stops something from happening or arising.
Usage
- As a transitive verb: It is used with a direct object (a person, an action, or a thing).
- Structure:
to forbid someone [from doing something]orto forbid something. - The past tense is forbade or forbad. The past participle is forbidden.
- It expresses a formal or strong prohibition, often from a figure of authority (like a parent, rule, law, or circumstance).
Examples
- Commanding against:
- The sign forbids parking on this street.
- I forbid you to leave the house after midnight.
- Her father forbade her from seeing him again.
- Making impossible; preventing:
- The high security forbids any unauthorized entry.
- My schedule forbids my attendance at the meeting. (i.e., makes it impossible)
Advanced Usage
- "God/Heaven forbid!": An exclamation expressing a hope that something will not happen.
- God forbid we should have another accident!
- "Forbidden fruit": Something that is desired precisely because it is not allowed. (This is an idiom derived from the biblical story).
- The strict rules made the late-night parties seem like forbidden fruit.
Variants and Related Words
- Forbidden (adj): Not allowed; prohibited.
- Entry is forbidden.
- Forbidding (adj): Appearing unfriendly, threatening, or dangerous.
- The castle had a dark and forbidding appearance.
- Forbiddance (n): The act of forbidding; prohibition. (Less common)
Synonyms
- Prohibit: To formally forbid by authority, rule, or law.
- Ban: To officially or legally forbid.
- Veto: To reject or forbid authoritatively.
- Preclude: To prevent from happening; to make impossible.
Antonyms
- Permit: To allow.
- Authorize: To give official permission.
- Allow: To let happen or be done.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions
- Forbid someone from doing something: This is a common construction to specify the prohibited action.
- The law forbids employers from discriminating.
- Forbid someone to do something: An alternative construction with the same meaning.
- The doctor forbade him to eat solid food.
Related Idioms
- Forbidden fruit: As mentioned above.
- Strictly forbidden: Emphasizes that a rule must not be broken under any circumstances.
- Smoking is strictly forbidden in this building.
Verb
-
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
-
My sense of tact forbids an honest answer
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Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project
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command against
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I forbid you to call me late at night
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Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store
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Dad nixed our plans
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