Preclude Meaning
/pɹɪˈkluːd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo remove the possibility of; to rule out; to prevent or exclude; to render impossible.
Sentence Examples
You can be both kind and firm. One does not preclude the other.
The one doesn't preclude the other.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rain will ____ any outdoor activities for the entire day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bad weather did not ____ the team from completing the outdoor survey as planned.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae- Latin clūdō Latin praeclūderelbor. English preclude Learned borrowing from Latin praeclūdere.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Now, own the truth,—are you not very sorry that my having been in the opposition precludes your going to the most brilliant fête of the season?""
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Influence of an Invitation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 15:
"A chime whistle, presented to the L.M.S.R. by American model railway enthusiasts in 1939, is installed now as a works hooter at Crewe Works, as its height precludes its use on a British locomotive."
— 1946 September and October, “Notes and News: Locomotive Whistle Gift”, in Railway Magazine, page 322:
"This is of unusual importance at Perth, compared with other modern yards, because the restricted scope for layout development precluded provision of a separate track as a head shunt at the southern end of the yard site. When such a facility is required, the main line has to be employed."
— 1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—II”, in Modern Railways, page 271:
"Israel's decision to ban fluoridation follows a vote to preclude the practice in Portland, Ore., and Wichita, Kan. It was also recently overturned in Hamilton, the fourth most populous city in New Zealand."
— 2013 August 9, Douglas Main, “Israel Outlaws Water Fluoridation”, in livescience, retrieved 30 Sep 2013:
"All the overnight trains were composed of Mk 1 vehicles that had vacuum brakes. This precluded the use of new Class 87s, which only had train air braking equipment, [...]."
— 2020 June 17, David Clough, “Then and now: trains through Crewe”, in Rail, page 61:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rain will ____ any outdoor activities for the entire day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bad weather did not ____ the team from completing the outdoor survey as planned.