Prevents

Prevents is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb prevent. To prevent something is to stop it from happening, arising, or existing, or to hinder or avoid a consequence. The word derives from Latin praevenire, meaning to anticipate or come before.

In modern English, prevent is a transitive verb. It is used with a direct object or with from plus an -ing clause or infinitive: for example, “The security system prevents unauthorized entry,” “Regular hand washing prevents the spread of infections,” or “The barrier prevents animals from entering.” The construction “prevent someone from doing something” is common, as in “The policy prevents employees from sharing confidential information.” The basic forms are prevent (base form), prevents (present tense, third person singular), preventing (present participle/gerund), and prevented (past and past participle).

Related terms include prevention (the act of preventing), preventive or preventative (adjective), and synonyms such as hinder, impede, stop, or avert. In usage, prevent is typically neutral and concrete; in some legal or formal contexts, stronger terms like preclude or prohibit may be used to convey a stricter restriction. The concept of prevention is central to fields such as public health, safety, and risk management, where actions are taken to reduce the probability or impact of adverse outcomes.