# forbid

> English word · Verb · IPA /fɚˈbɪd/ · frequency rank #11,890

## Definitions
1. To disallow; to proscribe.
2. To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command.
3. To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command.
4. To accurse; to blast.
5. To defy; to challenge.

## Etymology
From Middle English forbeden, from Old English forbēodan (“to forbid, prohibit, restrain, refuse, repeal, annul”), from Proto-Germanic *furibeudaną, from *furi + *beudaną. Equivalent to for- (“from, away”) + bid (“to offer, proclaim”). Cognate with Dutch verbieden (“to forbid”), German verbieten (“to forbid”), Danish forbyde (“to forbid”),
Norwegian Bokmål forby (“to forbid”), Swedish förbjuda (“to forbid”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (faurbiudan). Related to forbode.

## Easily confused with
- **ford** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbid-vs-ford)
- **forced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbid-vs-forced)
- **formed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbid-vs-formed)
- **forged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbid-vs-forged)
- **forked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbid-vs-forked)
- **Forbes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbes-vs-forbid)
- **forbade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forbade-vs-forbid)

## Common misspellings (9)
`fforbid`, `fobrid`, `forbbid`, `forbdi`, `forbidd`, `foribd`, `forrbid`, `frobid`, `ofrbid`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/forbid