forbidfor‧bid /fəˈbɪd $ fər-/ ●●○ verb (past tense forbade /-ˈbæd, -ˈbeɪd/, past participle forbidden /-ˈbɪdn/, present participle forbidding) [transitive] 
He was forbidden to leave the house, as a punishment.forbid somebody from doing something Women are forbidden from going out without a veil.strictly/expressly/explicitly etc forbid The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that someone is not allowed to do something rather than is forbidden to do something:· He was not allowed to leave the house.2God/Heaven forbid spoken used to emphasize that you hope that something will not happen: ‘Supposing I had an accident.’ ‘God forbid!’3formal to make it impossible for someone to do something SYN prevent: Lack of space forbids listing the names of all those who contributed.THESAURUSforbid to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed: · His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.· It is forbidden to say such things.not allow to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it: · The company does not allow smoking inside the building.· Mobile phones are not allowed in school.not let [not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow: · My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.not permit [usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow: · Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.· Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.ban to say officially that people must not do or have something: · Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.· The book was banned in many countries.prohibit /prəˈhɪbət $ proʊ-/ to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this: · Acts of vandalism are prohibited.bar [usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially: · Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.proscribe formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something: · The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.
WORD ORIGINforbid
Origin:
Old English forbeodanVERB TABLE
forbid
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | forbid |
| he, she, it | forbids | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | forbade, forbad |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have forbidden, forbid |
| he, she, it | has forbidden, forbid | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had forbidden, forbid |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will forbid |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have forbidden, forbid |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am forbidding |
| he, she, it | is forbidding | |
| you, we, they | are forbidding | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was forbidding |
| you, we, they | were forbidding | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been forbidding |
| he, she, it | has been forbidding | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been forbidding |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be forbidding |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been forbidding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- At that time, the state law forbade the teaching of evolution.
- The management forbids employees to accept tips from customers.
- Their religion forbids the eating of pork.
- They were forbidden from entering the sacred chamber.
- Indeed, modesty forbade him to contemplate too long what he could count a personal success.
- She forbade him to accompany her beyond the door and walked alone over the golden sand past the flower-beds to the gate.
- She still did lip service to the old ways, while herself nibbling away at forbidden fruit.
- The Countess forbade it in her will, knowing what the beginnings had been.
- The logic of transnational production either forbids, permits, or encourages backward linkages.
THESAURUS
to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed: · His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.· It is forbidden to say such things.
to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it: · The company does not allow smoking inside the building.· Mobile phones are not allowed in school.
[not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow: · My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.
[usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow: · Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.· Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.
to say officially that people must not do or have something: · Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.· The book was banned in many countries.
to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this: · Acts of vandalism are prohibited.
[usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially: · Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.
formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something: · The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.
Longman Language Activatorto tell someone that they must not do something to say that someone must not do something, and stop them doing it. Not allow is more formal than not let: not let somebody do something: · My parents won't let me stay out after 11 o'clock.not allow somebody to do something: · The university does not allow athletes to work during the school year.not allow something: · Joan and Bill don't allow smoking in their house.
to tell someone that they should not do something, especially because it is dangerous or harmful: · My mother always told us not to talk to strangers.· His doctor told him not to drink any alcohol while he was taking the tablets.
formal to say clearly and strongly that someone should not do something: · Their religion forbids the eating of pork.forbid somebody to do something: · The management forbids employees to accept tips from customers.forbid somebody (from) doing something: · They were forbidden from entering the sacred chamber.
to tell someone that they cannot do something when they have asked for your permission to do it: · He wanted to use the car tonight but I said no.· She wanted to go to the conference but her boss said she couldn't take the day off from work.
to officially forbid something - use this about activities that are forbidden by law or agreement, especially because they are dangerous: · Many doctors now say that boxing should be banned.· a new international treaty banning all nuclear testsban somebody from (doing) something: · Relatives of the prisoners were banned from visiting them.
to forbid an activity by making it illegal: · International Law prohibits the use of chemical weapons.· The U.S. prohibited all flights to the country while the war was in progress.prohibit somebody from doing something: · Mexican law prohibits the clergy from teaching in universities and schools.
to completely forbid something by making it illegal: · Attempts to outlaw abortion have so far been unsuccessful.· Slavery was not officially outlawed in Australia until 1859.
if a government or organization blacklists someone, they keep a record of their name in order to forbid them doing a particular job or taking part in a particular activity: · Members of the Communist Party were blacklisted and had great difficulty finding work.· When she tried to get a loan she found she had been blacklisted.
when you are not allowed to do something when a person or a rule says that you must not do something: · We're not allowed to wear jewellery at school.· My mom wasn't allowed to wear makeup until she was 16.something is not allowed: · Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building.
if something is forbidden , you are not allowed to do it. If someone is forbidden to do something, they are not allowed to do it. Be forbidden is more formal than not allowed: · In Saudi Arabia, alcohol and drug use are forbidden.be forbidden to do something: · Prisoners were forbidden to speak to each other while they were working.be strictly forbidden: · The use of mobile phones is strictly forbidden during take-off and landing.forbidden by law: · Teachers were forbidden by law to teach Darwin's theory of evolution.
spoken if you can't do something, you are not allowed to do it: · You can't park here.· Dad says I can't go out tonight.
used on signs and notices to say that you are not allowed to smoke, park your car etc: · There were 'no smoking' signs in every room.· The gate was locked and the sign said 'No Trespassing'.
formal to be forbidden by a law or rule - used especially on official notices and warnings: · Cars are prohibited in the city centre.· Talking is not permitted in class.· Cameras are prohibited inside the cathedral.· The use of calculators in the test is not permitted.strictly prohibited: · Smoking in the cinema is strictly prohibited.
use this to tell someone that they are not allowed to do something: · You're not to tell anybody about this!· Employees are not to leave their cars in the company parking lot overnight.
a subject, word, or activity that is taboo is not normally talked about or done because it is considered embarrassing or offensive according to social custom or accepted moral standards: · Sex before marriage is no longer taboo in western countries.taboo subject: · Death is still a taboo subject for many people.
to forbid books, films etc to forbid a book, film, play etc from being sold, seen, performed etc because it is considered morally harmful or politically dangerous: · Films like that should be banned!· Comics were banned in my house because my parents thought they weren't a good influence.· "Lady Chatterley's Lover" was banned when it was first published.
to examine films, books, letters etc and take out any parts that are considered to be morally harmful or politically dangerous: · The government censored all letters and telegrams going abroad during the war.· The court ruled that student newspapers could not be censored by school officials.
the practice of officially examining films, books, letters etc to take out any parts which are considered to be morally harmful or politically dangerous: · Any films that are shown here have to pass government censorship.censorship of: · Angry journalists accused the government of censorship of free speech.
to forbid someone from going somewhere if a place is out of bounds , you are not allowed to go there or enter it: · When I was younger, my parents allowed me to go anywhere except the town centre, which was out of bounds.be out of bounds to somebody: · The swimming pool is out of bounds to children unless they are with an adult.
if a place is off limits , you are officially forbidden to go there: · The officer told the soldiers that the town was off limits.be off limits to: · Much of the palace is off limits to the public.
informal if a parent grounds their child, they do not allow them to go out with their friends for a period of time, as a punishment for behaving badly: · Mr Finkelstein grounded his kids after they were caught fighting at school.· I can't go to the movie with you -- I'm grounded for the next two weeks.
to forbid someone from taking part in an activity or sport to remove someone from their job or their school for a limited period of time as a punishment or in order to find out whether they have done something wrong: · Martinez was suspended for a week because he attacked another student.· The teacher has been suspended while the accusation is being investigated.suspend somebody for doing something: · Three police officers have been suspended for accepting bribes.
to officially state that someone is not allowed to do something, especially as a punishment for something bad they have done: ban somebody from doing something: · She was banned from driving for 6 months.· The government has banned public officials from accepting gifts from foreigners.
to officially state that someone is no longer allowed to take part in a competition or activity, because they have broken a rule: disqualify somebody from something: · Three athletes were disqualified from the championships after failing drugs tests.disqualify somebody from doing something: · He was fined £500, and disqualified from holding any political office.
to forbid someone from entering a place or taking part in an activity, especially because they have done something wrong: · Sorry, you can't come into this club - you're barred.be barred from doing something: · The fans were barred from ever attending football matches in England again.bar somebody from doing something: · In 1903 the New York School Board barred married women from teaching.
forbidden political organizations a banned political organization is one that is forbidden to meet or exist: · The government ordered members of the banned political party to appear for questioning.· Leaders of the banned trade union were arrested last night.
a political organization that is outlawed is completely forbidden to operate because it is considered extremely bad or dangerous: · The government announced that the National Democratic Party had been outlawed.· Police were blaming an outlawed leftist group for the bombing.
an illegal political organization is forbidden to operate by law: · All unions have been declared illegal by the ruling party.· An increasing number of racist attacks are being carried out by the NPA and other illegal organizations.
an official order forbidding something an official statement that forbids something, based on a law or a government decision: ban on: · The city has imposed a ban on smoking in all restaurants.· There has been worldwide protest against the ban on girls' education.a total/complete ban: · The government is considering a total ban on the sale of handguns.impose a ban on something (=ban something): · A ban has been imposed on the hunting and killing of whales.lift a ban (=stop having a ban): · The new prime minister agreed to lift the ban on opposition newspapers.
official orders forbidding trade or dealings with a particular country, used as a way of punishing them or stopping them from doing something: · Economic sanctions can be as effective as military action.sanctions against: · The Canadian foreign minister criticized U.S. sanctions against Cuba.sanctions on: · Protesters called for sanctions on all countries that violate the human rights of their citizens.impose sanctions (=start having sanctions): · The U.S. threatened to impose sanctions on any country that used chemical or biological weapons.
an official order forbidding trade in a particular product with a particular country for political or economic reasons: trade/oil/arms etc embargo: · There was a relaxation of the American trade embargo.embargo on: · an embargo on British beef· The government has imposed an arms embargo on countries involved in international terrorism.
an official order made by a court forbidding someone to do something, which includes a threat of punishment if they ignore the order: · A court injunction forbade Clive Heywood to enter his wife's house.take out an injunction (=get an injunction from a court): · The government is taking out an injunction against the newspaper to try to stop it publishing a secret report.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He was expressly forbidden to speak to the girl. Alcohol is strictly forbidden on school premises.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.· Colombia's constitution forbids extradition.
He was expressly forbidden to speak to the girl.· The rule forbids women from becoming members of the club.
Alcohol is strictly forbidden on school premises.· But this last is precisely what Mr Lawson has long wanted to do and the Prime Minister absolutely forbidden.· Plainly in any less desperate case the risk of activating oncogenes would absolutely forbid the use of such a drug.
· LEAs were explicitly forbidden to use them to reorganise schools.· It is now in effect explicitly forbidden to do this in any aspect of the instructional program.
· They were expressly forbidden to engage in any other activities, of course.· Violent shaking or other gross indignities are expressly forbidden.· He was actually expressly forbidden to speak to me about the matter.· She was going to swim in the lake, alone, because both Nick and her father had expressly forbidden it.· The book of Leviticus expressly forbids it.
· Mrs Berzins, who remembered herself as a young woman, did not strictly forbid her to go.· He had found the porter visiting the superintendent nurse in her room, a form of social exchange that was strictly forbidden.· Although we have been strictly forbidden to enter the shed, my sister and I spend a lot of time in here.· In some cultures eye contact between men and women is strictly forbidden outside the immediate family.· The pentecostal faith strictly forbids drunkenness, carousing, and infidelity.· Adam, as a child, had been strictly forbidden ever to go in there.· The Agrarian Code of 1922 strictly forbade the sale of land and the granting of mortgages.
NOUN· An act of 1975 forbids discrimination against anyone on the ground of race.· Gibbs calls it a blatant violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, which forbids using federal money for gentrification.· The terms of the Act forbade the wearing of political uniforms except on ceremonial occasions.
· It does not forbid separating children in sets, according to their abilities and their interests.· Heaven forbid that this child should ever be tainted by the grossness of the world!· It was kept locked, and entry to it forbidden to the children, as Léonie knew perfectly well.
· Thanks to bitter memories of dictatorship, the constitution forbids a second consecutive term for any elected official.
· Their law doesn't actually forbid the use of machines.· State law forbids campaigning within 100 feet of polling places.· Federal law forbids a union member from taking his own case to court.· Nor could he disregard the Salic Law which forbade the accession to the throne of a woman.· Baja California law forbids land invasions, yet other provisions in the law allow squatters to legalize their holds after five years.· They resented the Forest law which forbade them to hunt over their own lands and woods on pain of heavy penalties.· And exploitation of the tourist appeal is difficult because state law forbids cemeteries to charge admission.
· In 1807, Dinah is no longer preaching, the Conference having changed its rules to forbid it.
· And exploitation of the tourist appeal is difficult because state law forbids cemeteries to charge admission.· In Griswold, we held that the Constitution does not permit a State to forbid a married couple to use contraceptives.
· Their law doesn't actually forbid the use of machines.· The United States has forbidden the use of federal funds for human cloning research.· Opposition Members want us to forbid the use of that personal allowance, if only in part, for a particular purpose.· Plainly in any less desperate case the risk of activating oncogenes would absolutely forbid the use of such a drug.
· No doubt this is the reason St Paul, or some one using his name, forbade women to speak in church.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► God forbid (that)► God forbid (that)► modesty forbids
1to tell someone that they are not allowed to do something, or that something is not allowed OPP permitforbid somebody to do something- God forbid you should have an accident.
- And heaven forbid that you should be served by some one in a chain coffee house with a regional accent.
- My guess is this: Heaven forbid that you have a cancer right now.
- Or, heaven forbid, ridicule him?
- Heaven forbid you should have an accident!
- And heaven forbid that you should be served by some one in a chain coffee house with a regional accent.
- Or, heaven forbid, ridicule him?
He was forbidden to leave the house, as a punishment.forbid somebody from doing something Women are forbidden from going out without a veil.strictly/expressly/explicitly etc forbid The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that someone is not allowed to do something rather than is forbidden to do something:· He was not allowed to leave the house.2God/Heaven forbid spoken used to emphasize that you hope that something will not happen: ‘Supposing I had an accident.’ ‘God forbid!’3formal to make it impossible for someone to do something SYN prevent: Lack of space forbids listing the names of all those who contributed.THESAURUSforbid to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed: · His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.· It is forbidden to say such things.not allow to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it: · The company does not allow smoking inside the building.· Mobile phones are not allowed in school.not let [not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow: · My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.not permit [usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow: · Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.· Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.ban to say officially that people must not do or have something: · Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.· The book was banned in many countries.prohibit /prəˈhɪbət $ proʊ-/ to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this: · Acts of vandalism are prohibited.bar [usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially: · Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.proscribe formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something: · The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.