forbid

[fəˈbɪd]

[fɚˈbɪd]

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Forbid means to stop someone from doing something, often because it's not allowed or considered wrong.

When we use "forbid" in everyday life, we usually mean that something is prohibited or against the rules. Imagine you're at a school or workplace where there are strict rules about what people can and can't do. If your principal says, "Students are forbidden from using their phones during class," it means they're not allowed to use them. This could be because of distractions, cheating, or even safety reasons. The word "forbid" is often used in situations where something needs to be strictly enforced, like laws or regulations. It can also be used more generally, like when a parent says, "I forbid you from going out with that person," which means they're not allowed to spend time with someone they don't trust.

How common is "forbid"?

Word forbid is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

To disallow; to proscribe.
Example: Smoking in the restaurant is forbidden.
(ditransitive) To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.
Example: An impassable river forbids the approach of the army.
To accurse; to blast.
To defy; to challenge.
Example: What part of "no" do you forbid to understand?