preclude

What does “preclude” mean?

verb.to prevent from happening; to make impossible.

SAT Usage

this verb often appears in contexts involving obstacles, barriers, or preventive measures in discussions about social issues, scientific processes, or decision-making. It emphasizes the idea of actively stopping something from occurring, distinguishing itself from similar words like "hinder," which suggests a less definitive interference rather than an outright prevention.

Common Confusions

Preclude implies an active prevention of an event or action, while hinder usually suggests an obstruction that slows down or complicates progress without completely stopping it.

Example Sentences

• Rain does not preclude the possibility of holding the event.

• A broken leg will preclude him from playing this season.

Word Parts: How to Remember “preclude”

Break “preclude” into its parts: pre- (before) + -cede- (go, yield). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: pre- before (Latin)
• Root: -cede- go, yield (Latin)