Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

preclude

verbHigh-frequency wordMore P words

to prevent something from happening or to make it impossible

Word origin: From Latin praecludere, to close off, from prae (before) and claudere (to shut).

In a sentence

Preclude in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing preclude in a sentence.

The strict deadline precluded any further revisions to the manuscript.

A clause in the contract precludes the sale of the data to third parties.

Synonyms
preventforestallrule outobviate
Antonyms
allowpermitenable
Usage & nuance

Using “preclude” well

Preclude means to make something impossible in advance. Do not confuse it with the look-alike include, its near opposite in form though not in meaning.

Common questions

Questions about “preclude

Preclude (verb) means to prevent something from happening or to make it impossible
Here is preclude used in an example sentence: "The strict deadline precluded any further revisions to the manuscript." Another example: "A clause in the contract precludes the sale of the data to third parties."
Common synonyms for preclude include prevent, forestall, rule out, obviate.
Antonyms of preclude include allow, permit, enable.
On the GRE, preclude clusters with prevent, forestall, rule out, and obviate, opposing allow, permit, and enable.
Yes. Preclude is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.