What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Prevent vs Forestall - What's the difference?

prevent | forestall |

In transitive terms the difference between prevent and forestall

is that prevent is to stop; to keep (from happening) while forestall is to preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.

As a noun forestall is

an ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.

prevent

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To stop; to keep (from happening).
  • I brushed my teeth to prevent them from going yellow.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=Tom Fordyce , title=Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Scotland must now hope Georgia produce a huge upset and beat Argentina by at least eight points in Sunday's final Pool B match to prevent them failing to make the last eight for the first time in World Cup history.}}
  • * 1897 , Henry James, What Maisie Knew :
  • ‘I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I'm here to prevent !’
  • (obsolete) To come before; to precede.
  • * Bible, 1 Thess. iv. 15
  • We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
  • We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.
  • * Prior
  • Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.
  • (obsolete) To outdo, surpass.
  • * 1596 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , IV.i:
  • With that he put his spurres vnto his steed, / With speare in rest, and toward him did fare, / Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed.
  • (obsolete) To be beforehand with; to anticipate.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • their ready guilt preventing thy commands

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * preventative * prevention * preventive

    forestall

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) forstal, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, or, historical) An ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.
  • Something situated or placed in front.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
  • Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action.
  • To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
  • In French, an aspired h forestalls elision.
  • (archaic) To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
  • To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
  • * Milton
  • What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?
  • * 1919 ,
  • She insisted on doing her share of the offices needful to the sick. She arranged his bed so that it was possible to change the sheet without disturbing him. She washed him. She did not speak to him much, but she was quick to forestall his wants.
  • To deprive (with of ).
  • * Shakespeare
  • All the better; may / This night forestall him of the coming day!
  • To obstruct or stop up, as a road; to stop the passage of a highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.
  • Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * forestaller * forestalment * forestallment