ward off
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
Stop something bad from reaching you or hurting you.
Literal meaning: To push (ward) something away.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To prevent an illness, danger, or threat from affecting you.
"Eating plenty of vitamin C is thought to ward off colds in the winter."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral
To defend against a physical attack or aggressive approach.
"She used her bag to ward off the attacker."
Grammar: separable
3 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To use a charm, ritual, or action to keep away evil, spirits, or bad luck.
"In many cultures, certain plants are hung above doorways to ward off evil spirits."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Commonly used with illness, danger, evil, and negative emotions. Also used in superstitious or folklore contexts (warding off evil spirits). Slightly formal in tone.
Commonly used with
illness evil danger infection attack depression spirits
Forms
Base
ward off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
wards off
he/she/it
Past simple
warded off
yesterday
Past participle
warded off
have + pp
-ing form
warding off
continuous
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Synonyms
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