Prevent vs Avoid - English In A Minute - YouTube

Hi guys! Dan for BBC Learning English here.

This time we're looking 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!