prevent/prIˋvɛnt; prIˈvent/v [T] to stop something from happening, or stop someone from doing something 预防﹐防止﹔阻止: an accident that could have been prevented 本可以防止的事故prevent sb from doing sth A knee injury prevented him from playing. 膝伤使他无法参加比赛。We were prevented from entering the building. 我们被阻止进入大楼。 —preventable adj : preventable diseases 可预防的疾病