Library / English Dictionary

PRECLUDE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Example:

Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project

Synonyms:

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "preclude"):

inhibit (prohibit, forbid, or prevent from doing something)

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; spoil; thwart (hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of)

block; halt; kibosh; stop (stop from happening or developing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

preclusion (the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make impossible, especially beforehand

Synonyms:

close out; preclude; rule out

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "preclude" is one way to...):

eliminate; obviate; rid of (do away with)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

preclusive (made impossible)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The topographic signal detected by the scientists is relatively more prominent in smaller simple craters, but does not preclude the possibility that ice may be more widespread in larger craters across the lunar pole.

(The Moon and Mercury May Have Thick Ice Deposits, NASA)

Miss Temple had always something of serenity in her air, of state in her mien, of refined propriety in her language, which precluded deviation into the ardent, the excited, the eager: something which chastened the pleasure of those who looked on her and listened to her, by a controlling sense of awe; and such was my feeling now: but as to Helen Burns, I was struck with wonder.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)