deter

UK: /dɪˈtɜː^r/ US: /dɪˈtɝ/ ,(di tûr′)

Inflections of 'deter' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

deters

v 3rd person singular

deterring

v pres p

deterred

v past

deterred

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•ter /dɪˈtɜr/   v. [~ + object (+ from + verb-ing)] , -terred, -ter•ring. 

1. to discourage or prevent (someone) from acting:
   The large dog deterred trespassers from entering.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•ter  (di tûr′), v.t., -terred, -ter•ring. 

1. to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding:
   The large dog deterred trespassers.
2. to prevent;
   check;
   arrest:
   timber treated with creosote to deter rot.

• Latin dēterrēre to prevent, hinder, equivalent. to dē- de- + terrēre to frighten
• 1570–80

de•ter′ment, n. 
de•ter′ra•ble, adj. 
de•ter′ra•bil′i•ty, n. 
de•ter′rer, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deter / dɪˈtɜː/ verb ( -ters, -terring, -terred)

1. (transitive) to discourage (from acting) or prevent (from occurring), usually by instilling fear, doubt, or anxiety

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dēterrēre, from de- + terrēre to frighten

deˈterment noun