Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles Hi guys! Dan for BBC Learning English here. This time we're looking at the difference between 'prevent' and 'avoid'. 'Prevent' basically means 'stop'. If you prevent something, you stop it from happening - often before it starts. You can prevent something, prevent something from happening or prevent someone from doing something. For example: The arrival of the police prevented crime. Or: Losing my passport prevented me from flying. Or: I prevented her from slapping me! Wow! Now 'avoid', basically means 'miss'. If you avoid something, you try to make it miss you. For example: I avoided meeting my ex. Or: I avoided the slap easily!
A2 UK prevent avoid prevented slapping passport happening Prevent vs Avoid: English In A Minute 28909 1609 Evangeline posted on 2021/05/18 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary