forbid

When you forbid something, you refuse to allow it. You might have heard your parents say things like, "I forbid you to play ball in the house!" or "I forbid you to have any more parties when we're not home!"

Forbid comes from the Old English word forbeodan, meaning "forbid, prohibit." Forbid can also mean "prevent" or "keep from happening." The spare tire on your car will forbid you from driving any faster than 40 miles an hour — any faster and the car will shake. You may have heard forbid used in the expression "God forbid . . ." This refers to something you hope will not happen, so much so that you're asking God for a little help.

Definitions of forbid
  1. verb
    command against
    “I forbid you to call me late at night”
    synonyms: disallow, interdict, nix, prohibit, proscribe, veto
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    allow, countenance, let, permit
    consent to, give permission
    allow, grant
    let have
    show more antonyms...
    types:
    show 5 types...
    hide 5 types...
    ban
    prohibit especially by legal means or social pressure
    bar, debar, exclude
    prevent from entering; keep out
    enjoin
    issue an injunction
    criminalise, criminalize, illegalise, illegalize, outlaw
    declare illegal; outlaw
    ban, censor
    forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper)
    type of:
    command, require
    make someone do something
  2. verb
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
    “My sense of tact forbids an honest answer”
    synonyms: foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 16 types...
    hide 16 types...
    make unnecessary, save
    make unnecessary an expenditure or effort
    avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, stave off, ward off
    prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    block, blockade, embarrass, hinder, obstruct, stymie, stymy
    hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
    baffle, bilk, cross, foil, frustrate, queer, scotch, scuttle, spoil, thwart
    hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
    block, halt, kibosh, stop
    stop from happening or developing
    stonewall
    obstruct or hinder any discussion
    disappoint, let down
    fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
    embargo
    prevent commerce
    filibuster
    obstruct deliberately by delaying
    check
    block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey
    hang
    prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury
    bottleneck
    slow down or impede by creating an obstruction
    dash
    destroy or break
    short-circuit
    hamper the progress of; impede
    ruin
    destroy or cause to fail
    stay
    stop a judicial process