forbid

1 of 2

verb

for·​bid fər-ˈbid 

fȯr-

forbade fər-ˈbad  -ˈbād 

fȯr-

also forbad fər-ˈbad 

fȯr-

; forbidden fər-ˈbi-dᵊn 

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 forbid

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

Verb

• ban
• bar
• enjoin
• interdict
• outlaw
• prohibit
• proscribe

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

Cuban independent media have provided the type of watchdog journalism that state outlets are forbidden to do, often forcing the government to respond to denunciations first covered in their reporting. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

Using someone else’s work without proper attribution — which includes similarities in wording and in the way a story is structured — is a significant breach of our journalistic standards and is strictly forbidden by The Bee. —Colleen McCain Nelson, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025

The justices concluded that charter schools are public under state law, and that the First Amendment’s establishment clause forbids public schools from being religious. —Suzanne Eckes, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025

Although most states in the Deep South forbid the use of recreational cannabis, please remember that CBD is federally legal in the USA. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing forbid

• God/heaven forbid

Rhymes for forbid

• amid
• eyelid
• majid
• outbid
• outdid
• plasmid
• turbid
• undid
• bid
• did
• grid
• hid

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