Question

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
PREVENT

a)Excite
b)Support
c)Invite
d)Incite

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘prevent’ refers to ‘to keep something from happening’. The word ‘prevent’ is usually used as a verb, i.e. to denote an action.

Complete answer:

 The word ‘prevent’ has a specific meaning. It is to stop something from happening in the first place.
Example - ‘Action must be taken to prevent further accidents’, meaning more accidents have to be stopped from happening.

Now, let’s take a look at our options:

a)excite - The word ‘excite’ refers to ‘to cause someone to feel very enthusiastic and eager’. This word does not have the opposite meaning to the word ‘prevent’. So, it is not the correct option.
b)support - The word ‘support’ means ‘to bear all or part of the weight of’ or ‘to hold up’. It does not have the opposite meaning to the word ‘prevent’. So, it is an incorrect option.
c)invite - The word ‘invite’ refers to ‘make a polite, formal, or friendly request to someone to go somewhere or to do something’. It does not have the opposite meaning to the word ‘prevent’. So, it is an incorrect option.
d)incite - This word refers to ‘to encourage or stir up something on purpose’. This word has the exact opposite meaning of the word ‘prevent’. So, this is the correct option.

Note: Try to identify the meaning of the given word and choose the word which best fits the opposite of that word from the options.