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to guard

to guard

84 1.3
To take care to avoid a problem or danger
  • verb
  • /ɡɑrd/
translation icon : protegerse contra
  • He took steps to guard against potential risks when starting his new business.
  • guard against the possibility

So my question is how do you guard against both over promise?

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Examples

  • We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.

  • So my question is how do you guard against both over promise?

  • And it's really, really hard to guard against that.

  • The United States must guard against the possibility of an equivalent intelligence failure over Iran.

    Academic text (2012)
  • I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate.

  • We must guard against outlaws who would kidnap a relative of the King.

  • To prevent data breaches, companies must guard against unauthorized access to their systems.

  • You should guard against making hasty decisions without fully understanding the consequences.

Synonyms

to protect
vsto guard
1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

concerns taking precautions aimed at preventing particular unwanted consequences
to defend
vsto guard
1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

is less about active defence and more about preventive precaution
to be careful
vsto guard
979 1.0

Take care to avoid danger or getting hurt

means actually doing precautions rather than only warning others
to watch out
vsto guard
  • Informal
582 3.0

To be careful to avoid danger or trouble

emphasizes active preventive steps instead of momentary vigilance
to cover
vsto guard
352 1.9

To protect someone, for example by guarding them in a game

centres on taking precautions beforehand to avoid unwanted consequences
to shield
vsto guard
146 2.7

To protect someone or something from harm

is more about planned precautionary actions to avoid bad outcomes
to beware
vsto guard
136 4.1

Be careful and watch for danger

refers to performing protective actions, not only issuing a warning
to shield from
vsto guard
56 3.3

To protect people or things from harm

focuses more on preparatory precautions than on serving as a barrier
to safeguard
vsto guard
45 3.7

To protect someone or something from harm

focuses on taking precautions to avoid unwanted results rather than general safety
to ward
vsto guard
43 4.8

To keep someone or something safe from harm

emphasizes proactive steps to avoid unwanted consequences rather than only protection
to keep at bay
vsto guard
38 3.9

Stop something harmful from coming close and causing trouble

focuses more on early precautions than on continuously keeping danger away
on guard
vsto guard
27 3.5

Alert and ready to act if danger or problems appear

focuses more on preventive measures than on being simply alert
to stand guard
vsto guard
27 3.2

To stay in one place and watch to protect someone or something

is about taking precautions in general rather than assigned protective duty
to take precaution
vsto guard
25 3.6

Do things to avoid harm or danger

focuses on taking precautions generally to avoid unwanted results
to hedge
vsto guard
  • Specialized
20 6.7

To protect against financial loss by taking opposite investments

is broader, covering any precautions not only financial measures
to stand watch
vsto guard
  • Jargon
10 3.4

To stay awake and guard people or a place

means taking precautions broadly rather than serving an official watch role
to keep safe
vsto guard
9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

places more emphasis on preventive acts to avoid specific outcomes
on your guard
vsto guard
6 4.4

Ready and alert to notice danger or problems

is about acting beforehand to stop unwanted consequences
to shield against
vsto guard
3 3.8

To protect a person or thing from harm

is about taking precautionary steps ahead of potential unwanted events
to keep guard
vsto guard
2 3.1

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

is broader, covering precautions taken at any time, not just duty
to forfend
vsto guard
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To stop danger or harm from happening

expresses the act of taking precautions to avoid bad outcomes
to stand sentinel
vsto guard
  • Literature
1 7.0

To watch and guard a place or person

focuses more on preventive acts anywhere, not only on guarding duty
on one's guard
vsto guard
4.7

Alert and ready to deal with danger or problems

centres on making precautions ahead of possible unwanted outcomes
on (one's) guard
vsto guard
4.6

Ready and careful about possible danger or problems

involves taking precautionary actions rather than only staying alert
to bulwark
vsto guard
8.2

To protect someone or something by giving strong support like a wall

is about taking precautionary measures rather than acting as a structural barrier
to forefend
vsto guard
  • Archaic
9.9

To stop something bad from happening

is more about general precautionary behaviour rather than formal prevention

Antonyms

3.0

To do something that may cause harm or lead to loss

Idioms

51 4.2

Not ready or paying attention when something happens

Surprised and not ready for something that happens suddenly

27 3.5

Alert and ready to act if danger or problems appear

Ready and alert to notice danger or problems

Not paying attention and not ready for surprise or danger

Not paying attention and not ready for danger or surprise

Not ready and not paying attention when something surprises you

Ready and careful about possible danger or problems

Alert and ready to deal with danger or problems

Phrasal Verbs

To stay in one place and watch to protect someone or something

To surprise someone so they are not ready to react

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

Compounds

210 1.3

A person who watches and protects a building or people to stop stealing and trouble

152 3.7

A military group in each United States state that governors or federal leaders call in emergencies

A special military unit that protected the Iraqi government in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein

26 2.5

A person who watches prisoners in a jail or prison

20 2.1

A dog trained to protect people or property by warning and sometimes attacking intruders

16 7.0

A group of longtime members who resist new ideas

A branch of the United States military that enforces laws at sea, rescues people, and protects its waters

11 3.3

A period when someone watches and protects a place, often at night

9 4.8

A group of soldiers who stand or march at ceremonies to show respect

A group of part-time soldiers who help in local emergencies and serve abroad

5 2.5

A person who helps children and others cross streets safely near schools

A reserve force of civilian volunteers who support the United States Air Force in war and emergencies

A ceremony when uniformed guards change places and duties at a palace

4 9.2

A young person who supports Mao Zedong and takes part in political activity during China's Cultural Revolution

3 5.0

A group of people who carry a national or military flag during ceremonies

3 4.9

Not ready or alert when something surprises you

2 1.7

A person who protects a bank and its customers

A branch of the US government that protects people at sea, rescues boats and crews, and stops illegal activity

2 2.5

A hard pad worn over the front of the lower leg to protect the shin

guard boat
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A boat that watches and protects a harbor or ships

1 5.9

A volunteer group of local people who protect their area when the army is away

1 3.3

A part of the United States government that patrols coasts, enforces laws at sea, and rescues people

1 4.3

A set of metal bars over a gap in a road that stops cows from crossing

1 3.9

A set of metal bars attached to the front of a football helmet that protects the player's face

1 4.1

A group of people who stand in line to welcome an important person or honor a dead person

1 2.5

A person who stands at an entrance to check people entering

guard ship
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A navy ship kept ready to respond quickly to emergencies

1 5.5

US Department of Defense office that manages the Army and Air National Guard

A guard who stands near the king or queen during ceremonies while wearing a Tudor uniform

4.1

A bar attached to a car bumper that protects it from scratches and small hits

3.1

A padded sleeve that protects the arm during sports like football or hockey

guard hair
  • Specialized
7.7

Long outer parts of an animal's coat that protect the soft fur underneath

provost guard
  • Formal
9.7

A group of soldiers who keep order and discipline in the military

A group of elite soldiers who guarded Roman emperors in ancient Rome

Praetorian Guard
  • Literature
9.6

A small loyal group of advisers and supporters who protect a leader and influence decisions

4.1

A curved cover above a bike or motorcycle wheel that stops mud and water splashing on the rider

4.0

A curved shield above a bicycle or motorcycle wheel that keeps mud and water off the rider

watch guard
  • Archaic
6.7

A short chain or ribbon that clips a pocket watch to clothing

How Cautious

to guard
84 1.3
to prevent
2.3
to take risks
56 3.2

Surface Forms

guard infinitive
guarded past
guarded past participle
guarding present participle
guards third person singular

Etymology

Guard comes from an old German word meaning 'to watch' or 'protect', and is related to ward and warden. To guard against something is to take steps to stop it from happening.