preempt

American  

[pree-empt] / priˈɛmpt /

Or pre-empt

verb (used with object)

1. to occupy (land) in order to establish a prior right to buy.

   Synonyms:

   usurp, appropriate, claim

2. to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for oneself; arrogate.

   a political issue preempted by the opposition party.

3. to take the place of because of priorities, reconsideration, rescheduling, etc.; supplant.

   The special newscast preempted the usual television program.

4. to forestall or prevent (something anticipated) by acting first; preclude; head off.

   an effort to preempt inflation.

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verb (used without object)

1. Bridge. to make a preemptive bid.

noun

1. Bridge. a preemptive bid.

Other Word Forms

• preemptor
  noun
• preemptible
  adjective
• preemptory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preempt

An Americanism first recorded in 1840–50; back formation from preemption

Explanation

If everyone at the lunch meeting is vying for the last roast beef sandwich, but you grab it first, you preempt your colleagues from getting it. Let them eat liverwurst! Preempt means to displace or take something before others can. Preempt combines the Latin prefix prae-, "before," with emere, "to buy." Think old-fashioned land grabs and midnight madness sales. It can also mean to replace one thing with another that’s more important. For instance, if the president is speaking or the football game is running long, brace yourself: the network just might preempt your favorite show.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preempt

For eight years, Boulder’s case against Suncor and Exxon has survived the oil companies’ attempts to have the case dismissed, claiming that federal law should preempt the state law claims.

From Slate ● Mar. 17, 2026

ANZ Research’s Dhiraj Nim believes it will be difficult to preempt how the GDP series will change under the new framework, with significant changes to the base year and input data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

There are only so many times a network affiliate like Sinclair can preempt a network show.

From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2025

Several firms have struck deals to preempt or avoid further reprisal, while others have sued, alleging they are being unlawfully targeted for retribution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2025

However, when we find evidence that the same wild ancestor was domesticated independently in different areas, we infer that the crop spread too slowly to preempt its domestication elsewhere.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond