Precluded

His lack of technical knowledge precluded him from promotion.

Darkness from the storm and then nightfall precluded further battle that day.

No one is sure exactly how many illegal immigrants are in the United States at the moment, though most estimates are in the eight to ten million range. Officials involved in drafting the president's proposal say there is room for all of them in the temporary worker program if enough jobs become available. They say workers who participate in the program are not precluded from applying for permanent residency or a green card. But these officials make clear participants will have no advantage over would-be immigrants applying from abroad.

Our train arrived punctually at the station, but the limited time available between connecting trains precluded anything but the briefest of strolls round the surrounding streets.