forestall
- to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance: to forestall a riot by deploying police.
- to act beforehand with or get ahead of; anticipate.
- to buy up (goods) in advance in order to increase the price when resold.
- to prevent sales at (a fair, market, etc.) by buying up or diverting goods.
Origin of forestall
Synonyms for forestall
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for forestall
hinder, prevent, thwart, avert, preclude, deter, anticipate, delay, monopolize, preoccupyExamples from the Web for forestall
Contemporary Examples of forestall
The invasion of Crimea, however, shows that the Putin has chosen to forestall change with the help of foreign aggression.
The way to beat them is not to forestall or worry about who scored points today.
Chavez could be declared "temporarily absent," a narrowly legal if baldly political maneuver to forestall succession.
The problem is that in an effort to forestall an Israeli strike, Obama is making war pledges now.
Obama Needs U.S. Debate Before Making Pledges to Israel About Attacking IranPeter Beinart
August 20, 2012
The global community came together to forestall the worst of the 2008–09 crisis, and "kumbaya" moments came fast and furious.
Historical Examples of forestall
After this she would be on her guard, forestall Martin, do tenderly what he would do harshly.
DustMr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
He must straight to Rosamund to forestall the tale that others would carry to her.
The Sea-HawkRaphael Sabatini
He could see it forming, and went on hurriedly to forestall it.
The Duke Of Chimney ButteG. W. Ogden
Nettie rose when they approached her to forestall their questions.
The Doctor's FamilyMrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
Jim turned up his coat collar to forestall a possible repetition.
The Spoilers of the ValleyRobert Watson
forestall
- to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
- to anticipate
- to prevent or hinder sales at (a market, etc) by buying up merchandise in advance, etc
- to buy up (merchandise) for profitable resaleCompare corner (def. 21)
Word Origin for forestall
Word Origin and History for forestall
late 14c. (implied in forestalling), "to lie in wait for;" also "to intercept goods before they reach public markets and buy them privately" (formerly a crime; mid-14c. in this sense in Anglo-French), from Old English noun foresteall "intervention, hindrance (of justice); an ambush, a waylaying," literally "a standing before (someone)," from fore- "before" + steall "standing position" (see stall (n.1)). Modern sense of "to anticipate and delay" is from 1580s. Related: Forestalled; forestalling.