forestall

[ fohr-stawl, fawr- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance:

   to forestall a riot by deploying police.

   Synonyms: obstruct, intercept, obviate, preclude

2. to act beforehand with or get ahead of; anticipate.

   Synonyms: avert, prevent

3. to buy up (goods) in advance in order to increase the price when resold.
4. to prevent sales at (a fair, market, etc.) by buying up or diverting goods.

forestall

/ fɔːˈstɔːl /

verb

1. to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
2. to anticipate
3. 1. to prevent or hinder sales at (a market, etc) by buying up merchandise in advance, etc
   2. to buy up (merchandise) for profitable resale Compare corner

Derived Forms

• foreˈstalment, noun
• foreˈstaller, noun

Other Words From

• fore·staller noun
• fore·stallment forestalment noun
• unfore·stalled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forestall¹

1350–1400; Middle English forstallen, verbal derivative of forstalle, Old English foresteall intervention (to defeat justice), waylaying. See fore-, stall ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of forestall¹

C14 forestallen to waylay, from Old English foresteall an ambush, from fore- in front of + steall place

Example Sentences

The field of flags on the Mall simulated a gathering of all the president’s supporters who couldn’t be there, and forestalled the optics of him being sworn in before an empty field.

From Washington Post

To forestall such violence, Congress set up a commission to settle the dispute.

From Washington Post

They may allow the utility to forestall millions of dollars in cleanup costs outlined by the December 2014 regulations.

From ProPublica

After months of casting doubt on their efficacy in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, he decided not to send a strong message on the matter even while infected — a decision that seemed to forestall the possibility of an about-face.

From Washington Post

Now climate change has made it hotter and drier than ever before, and the fire we’ve been forestalling is going to happen, fast, whether we plan for it or not.

From ProPublica

The invasion of Crimea, however, shows that the Putin has chosen to forestall change with the help of foreign aggression.

From The Daily Beast

Lukashenko had hoped that the biting cold of December would forestall protests.

From The Daily Beast

The way to beat them is not to forestall or worry about who scored points today.

From The Daily Beast

Chavez could be declared "temporarily absent," a narrowly legal if baldly political maneuver to forestall succession.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is that in an effort to forestall an Israeli strike, Obama is making war pledges now.

From The Daily Beast

"Why, you—" Mandleco gave a snort of anger and started forward, but Beardsley managed to forestall him.

From Project Gutenberg

Am I suddenly to obtain some post, and do people know it, or foresee it, because they forestall me and bow to me first?

From Project Gutenberg

"You would only forestall my own blow," she said quietly, and there was new silence.

From Project Gutenberg

They will report this to the rulers unless we forestall them.

From Project Gutenberg

The Russians, recognizing their peril, completed the assembly of their forces to attack the allies and forestall them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anticipate
• avert
• deter
• hinder
• preclude
• prevent
• thwart