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protect
/prəˈtɛkt/
to keep safe from harm
Wear a helmet to protect your head while cycling.
A helmet helps prevent injury to your head when you ride a bike.
general
To keep someone or something safe from injury, damage, or loss.
The antivirus software protects your computer from viruses.
The software prevents harmful programs from damaging your computer.
She wore sunscreen to protect her skin from the sun.
The sunscreen shielded her skin from harmful UV rays.
Often used with prepositions like 'from', 'against', or 'by'.
military/legal
To defend or guard against attack or danger.
The treaty aims to protect endangered species.
The agreement seeks to prevent harm to animals at risk of extinction.
The lawyer will protect the client's rights in court.
The lawyer will ensure the client's legal rights are not violated.
Common in legal, military, and environmental contexts.
Collocations
protect fromshield against a specific harmprotect againstprevent harm caused by somethingprotect the environmentconserve natural resourcesprotect datasecure digital information
Pro Tip
Preposition Pairing
Use 'protect from' for direct threats (e.g., 'protect from rain') and 'protect against' for broader dangers (e.g., 'protect against fraud').
Gold Rule
Active vs. Passive
'Protect' implies an agent taking action (e.g., 'The fence protects the garden'). For passive safety, use 'be protected' (e.g., 'The garden is protected by the fence').
Word Origin
From Latin 'protectus', past participle of 'protegere' (to cover in front, shield), combining 'pro-' (in front) + 'tegere' (to cover). Entered English in the 15th century via Old French 'protecter'.
Usage Notes
Used transitively (e.g., 'protect someone') or with prepositions (e.g., 'protect from harm'). Often implies active intervention rather than passive safety.
Word Breakdown
pro-
before, in front of
prefix-tect
to cover
rootEnglish Dictionary