forbid

1 of 2

verb

for·​bid fər-ˈbid How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
forbade fər-ˈbad How to pronounce forbid (audio)
-ˈbād,
fȯr- How to pronounce forbid (audio)
also forbad fər-ˈbad How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
; forbidden fər-ˈbi-dᵊn How to pronounce forbid (audio)
fȯr-
; forbidding

transitive verb

1
: to proscribe (see proscribe sense 2) from or as if from the position of one in authority : command against
The law forbids stores to sell liquor to minors.
Her mother forbids her to go.
2
: to hinder or prevent as if by an effectual command
Space forbids further treatment here.
Modesty forbids telling what my part was in the affair.
forbidder noun

forbid

2 of 2

adjective

archaic
: accursed
he shall live a man forbidWilliam Shakespeare
Choose the Right Synonym for forbid

forbid, prohibit, interdict, inhibit mean to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done.

forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Examples of forbid in a Sentence

Verb I forbid you to go! She was forbidden by her parents to marry him. She was forbidden from marrying him. The museum forbids flash photography. The company's rules forbid dating among employees.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Last Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee met to consider a bill that would force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to either divest itself of the company financially or be forbidden from placing the product in online app stores. The Editors, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024 This week—possibly even Wednesday—the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that will require TikTok to divest from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or else be forbidden in the United States. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Opponents of the law said it was vaguely written, which led to most school districts in the state interpreting it to mean that discussion and symbols of LGBTQ+ subjects — such as rainbow flags — were forbidden. Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Corridors are silent as students are forbidden to speak with their peers. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 The form travels in one direction, from me to you, offering no path to analysis, critique, or, God forbid, argument. Lauren Oyler, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Horne contended that while school districts can offer dual language programs, they are forbidden from allowing English learners to participate under Proposition 203. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Congress could help protect Americans from the inflation tax by forbidding the Federal Reserve from purchasing government debt instruments such as Treasury securities. Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 Beijing would impose severe restrictions on who could buy these apartments and would forbid purchasers from trading their units on the open market. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forbid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

Middle English forbidden, from Old English forbēodan, from for- + bēodan to bid — more at bid entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forbid was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near forbid

Cite this Entry

“Forbid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forbid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

forbid

verb
for·​bid
fər-ˈbid,
fȯr-
forbade
-ˈbad,
-ˈbād
also forbad
-ˈbad
; forbidden
-ˈbid-ᵊn
; forbidding
: to order not to do or to be done or used
I forbid you to go
cameras are forbidden
forbidder noun

More from Merriam-Webster on forbid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!