protect

verb

pro·​tect prə-ˈtekt How to pronounce protect (audio)
protected; protecting; protects

transitive verb

1
a
: to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard
b
: defend sense 1c
protect the goal
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
protect one's rights
specifically : to restrict competition for (something, such as a domestic industry) by means of tariffs or trade controls
3
: defend sense 5
protect a lead

intransitive verb

: to provide a guard or shield
protects against tooth decay
protectable adjective
protective adjective
protectively adverb
protectiveness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for protect

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack.

defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

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

Examples of protect in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web But there's a debate over whether sanctions can actually help control these settlers, who Weiman says are protected by the Israeli army and supported by its military occupation policies in the territory. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, demon fighters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2024 Ukraine has long requested more air defense to protect major cities from such attacks. Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 These fatty molecules help protect the skin and prevent water loss. Lisa Desantis, Health, 22 Mar. 2024 To protect your tree and ward off the wildlife, try spraying the tree with a cayenne pepper and water mixture (16 parts water, one part cayenne pepper). Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 Stewart recommends camellia oil, a Japanese oil extracted from the seed of a flowering shrub, to lubricate moving parts of tools and protect them from rusting with a preventative coating. Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024 The first stage of implementation has been delivered as planned, a government spokesperson said, adding that the changes help keep the UK safe while protecting food supply chains and the agricultural sector from disease outbreaks that would cause significant economic harm. Olivia Fletcher, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 What about protecting underage users on these apps? Lauren Goode, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024

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 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

protect

verb
pro·​tect prə-ˈtekt How to pronounce protect (audio)
: to cover or shield from something that would destroy or injure : guard

Legal Definition

protect

transitive verb
pro·​tect
1
: to shield from injury or harm
protecting public health and safety
2
: to secure or preserve against encroachment, infringement, restriction, or violation : maintain the status or integrity of especially through legal or constitutional guarantees
protect a work against copyright infringement
the First Amendment protects speech
3
: to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls
protectable adjective
or protectible

More from Merriam-Webster on protect

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