transitive verb
1
a
: to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard
2
: to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees: such as
a
: to save from contingent financial loss
b
: to foster or shield from infringement or restriction
salesmen with protected territories
specifically
: to restrict competition for (something, such as a domestic industry) by means of tariffs or trade controls
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for protect
protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.
a hard hat to protect your head
shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
White House entrances are well guarded
safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
our civil liberties must be safeguarded
Example Sentences
He had no raincoat to protect himself from the rain.
She keeps her jewelry protected in a safe.
You have to protect your business against fraud.
New laws have been passed to protect your privacy.
The forest is protected by federal law.
The high taxes on imported goods are intended to protect domestic producers.
Sunscreen helps to protect against sunburn.
The insurance protects you against flooding.
The insurance does not protect against damage caused by earthquakes.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
These follow the introduction of more stringent safety rules that protect children online.
—
WIRED, 30 Mar. 2023
Phone Cases Many people use phone cases to protect their iPhones, but some cases interfere with the function of MagSafe chargers.
—Camryn Rabideau, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2023
Louisiana has a good Samaritan law, but anyone found to have administered a fatal dose is not protected from arrest and prosecution.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2023
The little girl further recounted to her grandfather being covered up and protected by her teacher before the students were evacuated hand-in-hand via a trail leading to a fire department nearby.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2023
Bigger budgets, protected by unions, but also working to a schedule.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 29 Mar. 2023
Garland said the memo was aimed at violence and threats of violence, and that parents protesting at school boards are protected by the Constitution.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
This past January, police assigned to protecting the state Capitol building in Madison reviewed surveillance video of a protest against police brutality.
—Todd Richmond, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Mar. 2023
In the past, the climate movement focused on protecting parks or areas that cage nature.
—Melissa Giannini, ELLE, 28 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘protect.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin protectus, past participle of protegere, from pro- in front + tegere to cover — more at pro-, thatch
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of protect was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near protect
Cite this Entry
“Protect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protect. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
31 Mar 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
pro·tect
(prə-tĕkt′)
tr.v. pro·tect·ed, pro·tect·ing, pro·tects
1.
a. To keep from being damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; guard. See Synonyms at defend.
b. To keep from being subjected to difficulty or unpleasantness: a mother who wanted to protect her children from the troubles she had seen when growing up.
c. To keep from being curtailed or exposed to risk: The reporter vowed to protect the privacy of his sources.
2. To help (domestic industry) with tariffs or quotas on imported goods.
3. To assure payment of (drafts or notes, for example) by setting aside funds.
4. Sports To attempt to hold (a lead) by playing careful defense and avoiding risky plays.
5. Baseball
a. To swing at a pitch near (home plate) in order to avoid being called out on strikes.
b. To swing at a pitch so as to give (a base runner) a better chance of advancing.
[Middle English protecten, from Latin prōtegere, prōtēct- : prō-, in front; see pro-1 + tegere, to cover; see (s)teg- in Indo-European roots.]
pro·tect′ing·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
protect
(prəˈtɛkt)
vb (tr)
1. to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
2. (Economics) economics to assist (domestic industries) by the imposition of protective tariffs on imports
3. (Commerce) commerce to provide funds in advance to guarantee payment of (a note, draft, etc)
[C16: from Latin prōtegere to cover before, from pro-1 + tegere to cover]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pro•tect
(prəˈtɛkt)
v.t.
1. to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, insult, etc.; cover; shield.
2. to guard (an industry) from foreign competition by imposing import duties.
v.i.
3. to provide, or be capable of providing, protection.
[1520–30; < Latin prōtēctus, past participle of prōtegere to shield, cover, protect]
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
prevent
– protect
1. ‘prevent’
If someone or something prevents you from doing something, they do not allow you to do it.
My only idea was to prevent him from speaking.
Cotton mittens will prevent the baby from scratching his own face.
2. ‘protect’
You do not use ‘prevent’ to say that something keeps you safe from something unpleasant or harmful. The word you use is protect.
Babies are protected against diseases like measles by their mother’s milk.
She had his umbrella to protect her from the rain.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
protect
Past participle: protected
Gerund: protecting
| Imperative |
|---|
| protect |
| protect |
| Present |
|---|
| I protect |
| you protect |
| he/she/it protects |
| we protect |
| you protect |
| they protect |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I protected |
| you protected |
| he/she/it protected |
| we protected |
| you protected |
| they protected |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am protecting |
| you are protecting |
| he/she/it is protecting |
| we are protecting |
| you are protecting |
| they are protecting |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have protected |
| you have protected |
| he/she/it has protected |
| we have protected |
| you have protected |
| they have protected |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was protecting |
| you were protecting |
| he/she/it was protecting |
| we were protecting |
| you were protecting |
| they were protecting |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had protected |
| you had protected |
| he/she/it had protected |
| we had protected |
| you had protected |
| they had protected |
| Future |
|---|
| I will protect |
| you will protect |
| he/she/it will protect |
| we will protect |
| you will protect |
| they will protect |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have protected |
| you will have protected |
| he/she/it will have protected |
| we will have protected |
| you will have protected |
| they will have protected |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be protecting |
| you will be protecting |
| he/she/it will be protecting |
| we will be protecting |
| you will be protecting |
| they will be protecting |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been protecting |
| you have been protecting |
| he/she/it has been protecting |
| we have been protecting |
| you have been protecting |
| they have been protecting |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been protecting |
| you will have been protecting |
| he/she/it will have been protecting |
| we will have been protecting |
| you will have been protecting |
| they will have been protecting |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been protecting |
| you had been protecting |
| he/she/it had been protecting |
| we had been protecting |
| you had been protecting |
| they had been protecting |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would protect |
| you would protect |
| he/she/it would protect |
| we would protect |
| you would protect |
| they would protect |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have protected |
| you would have protected |
| he/she/it would have protected |
| we would have protected |
| you would have protected |
| they would have protected |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Verb | 1. | protect — shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; «Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain»
cover for — provide an excuse or alibi for someone so as to cover up guilt; «I won’t lie and cover for you» defend — be on the defensive; act against an attack overprotect — protect excessively; «Don’t overprotect your son—he is an adult now!» look out — to protect someone’s interests; «A man’s gotta look out for his family» cover — hold within range of an aimed firearm ward, guard — watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect; «guard my possessions while I’m away» defend, guard, hold — protect against a challenge or attack; «Hold that position behind the trees!»; «Hold the bridge against the enemy’s attacks» shield, screen — protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm charm — protect through supernatural powers or charms cover — protect or defend (a position in a game); «he covered left field» cover — be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game mothproof — protect from moths; «mothproof woollen clothes during the summer» body guard — accompany and protect from physical harm insure — take out insurance for cover — to take an action to protect against future problems; «Count the cash in the drawer twice just to cover yourself» preserve, keep — maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; «May God keep you» |
| 2. | protect — use tariffs to favor domestic industry
trade — the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services; «Venice was an important center of trade with the East»; «they are accused of conspiring to constrain trade» assist — act as an assistant in a subordinate or supportive function |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
protect
verb keep someone safe, defend, keep, support, save, guard, secure, preserve, look after, foster, shelter, shield, care for, harbour, safeguard, watch over, stick up for (informal), cover up for, chaperon, give someone sanctuary, take someone under your wing, mount or stand guard over He vowed to protect her all the days of her life.
attack, threaten, assault, expose, betray, endanger, assail, expose to danger
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
protect
verb
To keep safe from danger, attack, or harm:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
chránit
beskytte
پاسبانی کردن
suojellasuojata
štititi
védeni
hlífavernda, verja
保護する
보호하다
apgintķsapgynimassaugomas
aizsargātpasargāt
zaščititi
skydda
kukinga
ป้องกัน
bảo vệ
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
protect
[prəˈtɛkt] vt
[+ person, thing] → protéger
to protect sb/sth from sth, to protect sb/sth against sth → protéger qn/qch de qch
to protect sb from sb → protéger qn de qn
to protect o.s. from sth, to protect o.s. against sth [+ disease, harm, cold] → se protéger de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
protect
vi → schützen (→ against vor +dat)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
protect
(prəˈtekt) verb
to guard or defend from danger; to keep safe. She protected the children from every danger; Which type of helmet protects the head best?; He wore a fur jacket to protect himself against the cold.
proˈtected adjective
(of certain animals or birds) protected by law from being shot etc.
proˈtection (-ʃən) noun
1. the act of protecting or state of being protected. He ran to his mother for protection; This type of lock gives extra protection against burglary.
2. something that protects. The trees were a good protection against the wind.
proˈtective (-tiv) adjective
giving, or intended to give, protection. protective clothing/glasses.
proˈtector noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
protect
→ يَحْمِي chránit beskytte beschützen προστατεύω proteger suojella protéger štititi proteggere 保護する 보호하다 beschermen beskytte ochronić proteger защищать skydda ป้องกัน korumak bảo vệ 保护
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
protect
v. proteger, cuidar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
protect
vt proteger; to — against proteger contra; to — from proteger de; to —oneself protegerse
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- protect
- prəˈtekt гл.
1) защищать (from — от, against — против) ;
охранять, ограждать;
предохранять Take this medicine regularly;
it will protect you against a return of the illness. ≈ Принимай лекарство регулярно, оно защитит тебя от рецидива болезни. You can’t protect your brother from blame in the accident. ≈ Ты не сможешь выгородить своего брата, он несет ответственность за катастрофу. Syn : defend, guard, harbour, safeguard, shelter, shield Ant : attack, plunder
2) экон. проводить политику протекционизма
защищать, охранять, предохранять — to * one’s eyes from the sun защищать глаза от солнца ограждать права по патенту предохранять, ограждать (оборудование) (политэкономия) проводить политику протекционизма (коммерческое) (финансовое) акцептовать (тратту через известный промежуток времени) ;
оплатить — to * a bill at maturity оплатить тратту в срок (военное) бронировать, покрывать броней (железнодорожное) сигнализировать о том, что путь закрыт
erase ~ вчт. защита от стирания
protect акцептовать (тратту) ~ акцептовать ~ защищать, охранять ~ защищать (from — от, against — против) ;
ограждать;
предохранять ~ защищать ~ ограждать права по патенту ~ оплачивать (чек, тратту) ~ охранять ~ покровительствовать, осуществлять протекторат ~ предохранять ~ эк. проводить политику протекционизма
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь.
2001.
Полезное
Смотреть что такое «protect» в других словарях:
-
protect — pro·tect vt 1: to shield from injury or harm protect ing public health and safety 2: to secure or preserve against encroachment, infringement, restriction, or violation: maintain the status or integrity of esp. through legal or constitutional… … Law dictionary
-
Protect — Pro*tect , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Protected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Protecting}.] [L. protectus, p. p. of protegere, literally, to cover in front; pro before + tegere to cover. See {Tegument}.] To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
-
protect — [prə tekt′, prōtekt′] vt. [< L protectus, pp. of protegere, to protect < pro , before + tegere, to cover: see THATCH] 1. to shield from injury, danger, or loss; guard; defend 2. Commerce to set aside funds toward the payment of (a note,… … English World dictionary
-
Protect Me — may refer to: *A song from James album Seven *Protège Moi, a single by Placebo … Wikipedia
-
protect — (v.) 1520s, from L. protectus, pp. of protegere (see PROTECTION (Cf. protection)). Related: Protected; protecting … Etymology dictionary
-
protect — shield, guard, safeguard, *defend Analogous words: *save, preserve, conserve: *ensure, insure, assure: shelter, *harbor … New Dictionary of Synonyms
-
protect — [v] take care of; guard from harm assure, bulwark, care for, champion, chaperon, conserve, cover, cover all bases*, cover up, cushion, defend, fend, foster, give refuge, give sanctuary*, go to bat for*, harbor, hedge, insulate, keep, keep safe,… … New thesaurus
-
protect — ► VERB 1) keep safe from harm or injury. 2) Economics shield (a domestic industry) from competition by imposing import duties on foreign goods. 3) (protected) (of a threatened plant or animal species) safeguarded through legislation against… … English terms dictionary
-
protect — Assure the salesperson or trader that interest, buy or sell, will be attended to, given any change in the trading circumstances, as follows: At a price: If the stock trade at a certain price or price range, the trader will show this market to the … Financial and business terms
-
protect — verb ADVERB ▪ completely, fully ▪ adequately, properly, well ▪ A cardboard box would protect the product better. ▪ inadequately … Collocations dictionary
-
protect — 01. The cat ran up a tree to [protect] itself from the dogs. 02. The children were wearing heavy jackets, hats and wool mittens as [protection] from the severe cold. 03. A turtle s [protective] shell is very useful in keeping it safe from… … Grammatical examples in English
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Attested in English since 1530, from Latin prōtēctus (“covered, protected”), past participle of prōtegere (“to cover the front, protect”) from prō, prō- (“before, in front of”) + tegere (“to cover”), see tegument. Displaced native Middle English shelden, from Old English sċildan (“to protect,” literally “to shield”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /pɹəˈtɛkt/
- Rhymes: -ɛkt
Verb[edit]
protect (third-person singular simple present protects, present participle protecting, simple past and past participle protected)
- (transitive, intransitive) To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
-
to protect a child from danger
-
This antivirus package will protect your computer from hackers.
-
Condoms are designed to protect against sexually-transmitted diseases.
-
2012 March 1, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist[1], volume 100, number 2, page 87:
-
But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.
-
-
- (travel, aviation) To book a passenger on a later flight if there is a chance they will not be able to board their earlier reserved flight.
Synonyms[edit]
- beshield
- See also Thesaurus:defend
Derived terms[edit]
- protection
Translations[edit]
to keep safe
- Albanian: mbroj (sq)
- Arabic: حَمَى (ḥamā)
- Armenian: պաշտպանել (hy) (paštpanel)
- Aromanian: apãr
- Asturian: protexer
- Azerbaijani: qorumaq (az)
- Basque: please add this translation if you can
- Belarusian: абараня́ць impf (abaranjácʹ), абарані́ць pf (abaranícʹ)
- Bulgarian: предпазвам (bg) (predpazvam), защитавам (bg) (zaštitavam)
- Burmese: please add this translation if you can
- Catalan: protegir (ca)
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 保護／保护 (zh) (bǎohù), 保衛／保卫 (zh) (bǎowèi)
- Czech: chránit (cs)
- Danish: beskytte (da)
- Dutch: beschermen (nl), beveiligen (nl)
- Egyptian: (ḫwj), (mkj), (nḏ)
- Esperanto: protekti
- Estonian: kaitsma
- Finnish: suojata (fi) (against a concrete threat); suojella (fi), varjella (fi) (against an abstract threat)
- French: protéger (fr)
- Galician: protexer (gl), amparar (gl)
- Georgian:, იცავს (icavs), იფარავს (iparavs), მფარველობს (mparvelobs)
- German: schützen (de), beschützen (de)
- Greek: προστατεύω (el) (prostatévo)
- Haitian Creole: pwoteje
- Hebrew: הֵגֵן (he) (hegén)
- Hindi: रक्षा करना (rakṣā karnā)
- Hungarian: véd (hu), óv (hu), oltalmaz (hu), oltalmába vesz
- Icelandic: vernda (is)
- Ido: protektar (io)
- Irish: caomhnaigh, cosain, ainic
- Old Irish: aingid, imm·dích, do·eim
- Italian: proteggere (it)
- Japanese: 守る (ja) (まもる, mamoru), 保護する (ja) (ほごする, hogo suru)
- Khmer: គាំពារ (km) (koam pie)
- Korean: 보호하다 (ko) (bohohada)
- Kurdish:
- Central Kurdish: پاراستن (ckb) (parastin)
- Northern Kurdish: parastin (ku), parêztin
- Lao: please add this translation if you can
- Latin: protego, defendo, tutor, tueor, colo, munio (la)
- Latvian: saudzēt
- Lithuanian: saugoti (lt), apsaugoti
- Malayalam: രക്ഷിയ്ക്കുക (rakṣiykkuka)
- Maore Comorian: uhifadhwi
- Maori: whakangungu, whakaruruhau, whakahaumaru, kaikaro (With a spell), rauhī
- Middle English: helien, forhelien, bischilden, beschielden, berwen, bergen, mundien, mounden
- Mongolian: сэргийлэх (mn) (sergiilex)
- Navajo: bichʼą́ą́h naaghá
- Ngazidja Comorian: uhifadhwi
- Norman: protégi
- Norwegian: beskytte, verne, sikre (no), dekke (no), gardere
- Occitan: protegir (oc)
- Old English: sċildan
- Old Occitan: guardar
- Persian: پاییدن (fa) (pâyidan)
- Polish: chronić (pl)
- Portuguese: proteger (pt)
- Romanian: proteja (ro), apăra (ro), ocroti (ro)
- Russian: защища́ть (ru) impf (zaščiščátʹ), защити́ть (ru) pf (zaščitítʹ), оберега́ть (ru) impf (oberegátʹ), бере́чь (ru) impf (beréčʹ)
- Sanskrit: रक्षति (sa) (rakṣati)
- Scots: pertect
- Scottish Gaelic: dìon
- Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic: заштитити pf
- Roman: zaštititi (sh) pf
- Sindhi: رکيا ڪرڻ
- Slovak: please add this translation if you can
- Spanish: proteger (es), defensar
- Swahili: kukinga, kulinda (sw)
- Swedish: skydda (sv), beskydda (sv)
- Tagalog: protektahan
- Telugu: సంరక్షించు (te) (saṁrakṣiñcu)
- Thai: ป้องกัน (th) (bpɔ̂ng-gan), คุ้มครอง (th) (kúm-krɔɔng)
- Tocharian B: pāsk-
- Turkish: korumak (tr)
- Ugaritic: 𐎐𐎙𐎗 (nġr)
- Ukrainian: захища́ти impf (zaxyščáty), захисти́ти pf (zaxystýty)
- Uzbek: qoʻrimoq (uz)
- Vietnamese: bảo vệ (vi)
- Welsh: amddiffyn (cy)
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
- Quiz
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- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ pruh—tekt ]
/ prəˈtɛkt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object)
to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
Economics. to guard (the industry or an industry of a nation) from foreign competition by imposing import duties.
to provide funds for the payment of (a draft, note, etc.).
verb (used without object)
to provide, or be capable of providing, protection: a floor wax that protects as well as shines.
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Origin of protect
1520–30; <Latin prōtēctus, past participle of prōtegere to cover in front, equivalent to prō-pro-1 + teg-, stem of tegere to cover (akin to toga, thatch) + -tus past participle suffix
synonym study for protect
OTHER WORDS FROM protect
pro·tect·i·ble, pro·tect·a·ble, adjectivepro·tect·i·bil·i·ty, pro·tect·a·bil·i·ty, nouno·ver·pro·tect, verb (used with object)qua·si-pro·tect·ed, adjective
sem·i·pro·tect·ed, adjectiveun·pro·tect·a·ble, adjectiveun·pro·tect·ed, adjectivewell-pro·tect·ed, adjective
Words nearby protect
protean, Proteas, protease, protease inhibitor, protease inhibitors, protect, protectant, protected sex, protectee, protecting, protection
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to protect
assure, care for, conserve, cover, cushion, defend, insulate, keep, look after, preserve, safeguard, save, secure, shelter, shield, support, bulwark, champion, chaperon, fend
How to use protect in a sentence
-
They also trap silt and other sediment, protecting it from erosion and building up the shoreline.
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A separate set of challenges comes with trying to protect private homes from wildfire smoke.
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Infecting mice with a weakened strain of yeast not only protected them against more pathogenic yeast but also helped them fight unrelated Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
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Potts said she was disliked by some at the state Department of Public Safety for saying Alaska wasn’t doing enough to protect villagers.
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He will restore America’s reputation around the world as an ally in the struggle to protect and expand human rights.
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They are not the actual traffickers, Yazbek says, so generally the other refugees protect their identity.
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When our elected representatives assume their respective offices, they take an oath to “protect and defend the Constitution.”
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You already protect you, and look after you in sickness and in health.
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Defenders of the status quo claim the old rules protect consumers.
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Luckily, Tor was prepared for this sort of assault, and has built-in defenses to protect against it.
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This provided for, I will protect myself from future insult, depend upon it.
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It is therefore our duty, sir, to protect our principal, and we cannot consent to abate one jot or tittle of our rights.
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And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it.
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God comforts his church, promising to protect her for ever: he expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude.
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Tom willingly let the subject drop; his own desire was to appear natural, to protect her, to save her pain.
British Dictionary definitions for protect
verb (tr)
to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
economics to assist (domestic industries) by the imposition of protective tariffs on imports
commerce to provide funds in advance to guarantee payment of (a note, draft, etc)
Word Origin for protect
C16: from Latin prōtegere to cover before, from pro- 1 + tegere to cover
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other forms: protected; protecting; protects
Whether it’s your reputation or your jewelry, when you protect something you keep it safe from anything that might threaten or harm it.
The word protect came into English by way of the Latin verb protegere, a combination of pro- meaning “in front,” and tegere, meaning “to cover.” When you protect something, in a way you’re covering it or shielding it from harm. Often the word is used in the sense of protecting something, like a valued item or a person, but you can also protect against something. For example, you might get a flu shot to protect against the flu virus.
Definitions of protect
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verb
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
“Weatherbeater
protects your roof from the rain”-
synonyms:
secure
see moresee less-
types:
- show 25 types…
- hide 25 types…
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cover for
provide an excuse or alibi for someone so as to cover up guilt
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immunise, immunize
law: grant immunity from prosecution
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overprotect
protect excessively
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look out
to protect someone’s interests
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cover
hold within range of an aimed firearm
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guard, ward
watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
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defend, guard, hold
protect against a challenge or attack
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screen, shield
protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm
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charm
protect through supernatural powers or charms
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fence, fence in, palisade, surround, wall
surround with a wall in order to fortify
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safeguard
make safe
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cover
protect or defend (a position in a game)
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cover
be responsible for guarding an opponent in a game
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mothproof
protect from moths
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body guard
accompany and protect from physical harm
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insure
take out insurance for
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cover
to take an action to protect against future problems
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keep, preserve
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
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reinsure
insure again by transferring to another insurance company all or a part of a liability assumed
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stockade
surround with a stockade in order to fortify
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circumvallate
surround with or as if with a rampart or other fortification
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double-team
cover with two defensive players
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reinsure
provide additional insurance for
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coinsure
take out coinsurance
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shepherd
watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
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type of:
-
defend
be on the defensive; act against an attack
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verb
use tariffs to favor domestic industry
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘protect’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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protect 
protectant 
protected
protecting
protection 
protectionism 
protectionist 
protective 
protector 
protectorate 
protectorship 
protectory 
protectoscope
protectress, protectrix
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WordReference English-Russian Dictionary © 2023:
| Главные переводы | ||
| английский | русский | |
| protect⇒ vtr | (defend from attack) | защищать, охранять несов |
| защитить сов + вин | ||
| The bodyguards protected the prime minister. | ||
| Телохранители охраняли премьер-министра. |
Collins Russian Dictionary 2nd Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2000, 1997:
protect [prəˈtɛkt]
vt защища́ть (защити́ть*perf)
* is used to mark translations which have irregular inflections. The Russian-English side of the dictionary gives inflectional information.
‘protect‘ также найдено в этих статьях:
Русский:
I say «it is all about protecting the book» ..protect the books = protect the people ❋ Michael Allen (2005)
Executives under Ms. Robinson used the phrase «protect and grow» to describe their approach, often to the irritation of digital-side employees who have said the emphasis on protecting the Times too often stunted growth elsewhere. ❋ Russell Adams (2011)
Finally, asked why his family hasn’t appeared with him on the campaign trail, including his wife and adult children, Cain repeats that he is «an unconventional candidate» and wants to protect his family although he doesn’t use the word «protect«. ❋ Unknown (2011)
The only way to protect is to plan in advance; using super redundant and resilient systems. ❋ Unknown (2010)
«Which is why Google executives used the word ‘protect‘ at least six times while explaining the deal this morning.» ❋ Unknown (2011)
The purchase of an access card which blocks their unlawful use of the access card (there DRM rights) is how a person would protect from a theft. ❋ Unknown (2009)
At a beach house on the patio facing the ocean in a nice luxurious massage chair with a slide in table for my laptop with shades and coverage to protect from the sun. ❋ Nalini Singh (2009)
The minority that they want to protect is the minority of the super wealthy. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Constitution is its respect for the rights of minorities, whom it seeks to protect from the tyranny of the majority. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Barring an organization that openly discriminates against a group that you consider essential to protect is a statement of your values. ❋ Unknown (2010)
IMHO, the most important feature to protect is universal access. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Your PCP will give your child the number of flu shots that he/she needs to protect from the flus that are in our community this winter. ❋ Unknown (2010)
What are the parents of these kids that the ‘state must protect from the industry’? ❋ Unknown (2010)
You are Cowards and slimy scum not even human. only thing you protect is your stupidly and ignorants. ❋ Unknown (2010)
The barrage was built in 1974-75 and an agreement to protect from the unilateral withdrawal of water by India took 20 years of diplomatic efforts. ❋ Unknown (2009)
These clothes actually protect from the sun. that is one concept Americans no longer understand. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Peasants wore the keffiya as a practical head cover to protect from the hot sun in the daytime and the cold winds at nights. ❋ Unknown (2008)
Furthermore, how were the humans able to send their Terminator back to protect from the impossibly sent second robot Terminator? ❋ Unknown (2008)
The very purpose of the Constitution is to protect from the tyranny that a future majority may whimsically try to change the diverse and tolerant nature of Canada. ❋ Unknown (2008)
“[Dad], why [didnt] you use [protection]” ❋ McMinion (2020)
Chad forgot use [protection] when he fucked [Keirsten] last week so she ended up with [herpes]. ❋ SlopNChop (2016)
Boy- Hey! [How are you] feeling today? better than yesterday?
Girl- Yeah. I am feeling better. Thanks for caring and being [protective] of me. It means a lot to me.
(they [hug]) ❋ Julialoveyaxo (2009)
1. Before [you bang] that [nasty ho] you better have protection.
2. I [ain’t goin] out after dark in this hood without protection.
3. Vinnie hit up the shopkeep for his protection money.
4. «Fuck you, man. I can sell this crack all I want. I got protection.» ❋ DoktorJ (2005)
«hey nigga you brought [protection]?»
«[yeah dude] in case her parents [find out]» ❋ Niggafuck (2016)
man, i’ve [got to] [remember] to [wear] some protection… ❋ Ald;fjk (2004)
‘Round here, [suckas] need [protection]. [Betta] check yo’self, homie. ❋ T Hizzle (2005)
«Hey how’s [your girlfriend] man?»
«YOU’VE BEEN [SCREWING] HER, HAVEN’T YOU?»
«God, don’t be so fucking protective!» ❋ Thejamdude (2006)
[yah] that guy didnt use [protection] so he has [a kid] now : ❋ Graceafina120 (2007)
1. «Yo man that fucking [troll] is a Protection.»
2. «He went all Protection on those [forums].»
3. «[I like him] because hes a Protection.» ❋ Iamapiboss (2010)
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Defenition of the word protect
- To keep something or someone safe or prevent harm coming to someone or something.
- To prevent against danger, injury, destruction, or damage.
- shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; «Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain»
- use tariffs to favor domestic industry, in international trade
- use tariffs to favor domestic industry
- shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
Synonyms for the word protect
-
- care for
- defend
- guard
- keep
- look after
- safeguard
- save from harm
- shelter
- shield
- watch over
Similar words in the protect
-
- protect
- protected
- protecting
- protection
- protection’s
- protections
- protective
- protectively
- protectiveness
- protectives
- protector
- protector’s
- protectorate
- protectorate’s
- protectorates
- protectors
- protects
Hyponyms for the word protect
-
- body guard
- charm
- cover
- cover for
- defend
- fence
- fence in
- guard
- hold
- immunise
- immunize
- insure
- keep
- look out
- mothproof
- overprotect
- palisade
- preserve
- safeguard
- screen
- shield
- surround
- wall
- ward
Hypernyms for the word protect
-
- assist
- defend
See other words
-
- What is machinery
- The definition of workings
- The interpretation of the word ingredient
- What is meant by noteworthy
- The lexical meaning cling on to
- The dictionary meaning of the word building block
- The grammatical meaning of the word momentousness
- Meaning of the word ample
- Literal and figurative meaning of the word subsequents
- The origin of the word partition
- Synonym for the word sectional
- Antonyms for the word sectioned
- Homonyms for the word sectionalism
- Hyponyms for the word sectionals
- Holonyms for the word sectioning
- Hypernyms for the word sections
- Proverbs and sayings for the word carve up
- Translation of the word in other languages share out