Cool MateHinder vs To prevent a war
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hinder
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1verb
To prevent a war
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: To prevent a war
| Hinder | To prevent a war | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhɪndər//🇺🇸 //ˈhɪndər// | 🇬🇧 //tə prɪˈvɛnt ə wɔː//🇺🇸 //tə prɪˈvɛnt ə wɔr// |
| Meaning | To make something difficult or slow down progress. | To stop a fight between countries. |
| Example | The heavy rain will hinder our ability to drive safely. | The leaders met to prevent a war between their nations. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hinder progress, hinder development, hinder efforts | prevent a conflict, prevent escalation, prevent violence, prevent a crisis, prevent fighting |
| Antonyms | assist, help, facilitate | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'prevent', which means to stop something completely., Using 'hinder' without an object, which makes it grammatically incorrect., Overusing in casual conversation; it's better suited for formal writing. | Confusing 'prevent' with 'avoid' - 'prevent' means stopping something before it happens., Using informal language when discussing serious topics like war., Mistaking 'prevent' for 'prohibit' - 'prevent' is about stopping something from happening, while 'prohibit' means banning something. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe obstacles or setbacks. Avoid using for minor inconveniences. | Use 'prevent' in formal contexts, especially in discussions about politics, safety, or conflict. Avoid in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hinder vs To prevent a war
What's the difference between Hinder and To prevent a war?
Hinder: To make something difficult or slow down progress. To prevent a war: To stop a fight between countries.
Which is more common: Hinder and To prevent a war?
To prevent a war is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hinder: The heavy rain will hinder our ability to drive safely. To prevent a war: The leaders met to prevent a war between their nations.
Can I use Hinder and To prevent a war interchangeably?
Not always. Hinder and To prevent a war are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.