prohibit

To say officially that something must not be done.

• The rules prohibit smoking.
• The school prohibited phones during exams.
• Does the law prohibit children from working?

How to use it: prohibit doing something (The rules prohibit taking photographs.); prohibit someone from doing something (The law prohibits employers from asking certain personal questions.)

Similar words: ban, forbid, disallow

Opposites: allow, permit

Common phrases: prohibit smoking, prohibit something, prohibit someone from

To prevent something from happening or make it impossible.

• The cost prohibits further expansion.
• Her injuries prohibited any return to work.
• The narrow entrance prohibits access by large vehicles.

Similar words: prevent, preclude

Opposites: enable

Common phrases: prohibit access, prohibit further growth