verb
forbid
fuh-BIHD
verb
1
To order someone not to do something; to prohibit.
"The school forbids the use of phones during exams."
"Her parents forbade her from going to the party."
How to Use Forbid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo officially say someone is not allowed to do something.
Common mistake
Past tense is "forbade" (or "forbad"), and past participle is "forbidden" — not "forbidded."
Common pairings
forbid someone from
strictly forbidden
Word Forms
forbade past tense, forbad past tense, forbid past tense, forbidded past tense, forbidden past tense, forbids singular
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The school _____ the use of phones during exams.
Etymology
From Old English forbēodan, built from for- ("away") + a root meaning "to command" — related to German verbieten.