prohibit
To officially say that something is not allowed.
prohibit in a sentence
- Signs by the pond prohibit fishing, so the ducks paddle about in peace.
- The museum rules prohibit flash photography, so our cameras stayed in our bags.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to prohibit?
- Apermit
- Bban
- Callow
- Dinvite
Show the answer
B: ban. The other three mean the opposite of prohibit.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to prohibit?
- Aban
- Bforbid
- Cstop
- Dallow
Show the answer
D: allow. The other three mean nearly the same as prohibit.
Words that mean something similar
ban, forbid, stop
Words that mean the opposite
allow, permit, invite
Careful: prohibit is not forbid
Anyone in charge can forbid something. Prohibit is the official word for rules and laws. Read why children mix them up.
More words about behaviour & manners
- provoke: To deliberately make someone angry or cause a reaction.
- quell: To calm or put an end to something, such as fear or a fight.
- rash: Acting too quickly without thinking about what might happen.
- rebellious: Refusing to obey rules or people in charge.
- reckless: Doing dangerous things without caring what might happen.
- relent: To give in and become less strict after refusing something.
- resign: To give up a job or position by your own choice.
- rowdy: Noisy and behaving in a rough, wild way.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test