Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deter

/dɪˈtɝ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.48 in modern English

Syllables
de-ter
IPA
/dɪˈtɝ/
6
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To prevent something from happening.

Transitive verb

verb

To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.

Transitive verb

verb

To distract someone from something.

Transitive verb

name

A surname from German.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēterreō (“deter, discourage”), from de (“from”) + terreō (“to frighten”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: dēterreō, Deter

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /dɪˈtɝ/
  • British English: /dɪˈtɜː/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce deter?
The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈtɝ/.
What does deter mean?
To prevent something from happening.
Where does deter come from?
It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce deter

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “deter”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈtɝ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “deter”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “deter” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.