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

Other Word Forms

• forestaller noun
• forestallment noun
• forestalment noun
• unforestalled 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

Then she drove off to Portland, Ore., where she forestalled her father’s hope that she become a lawyer by eventually landing a job at alternative newspaper Willamette Week.

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Reduced fiscal deficits could help forestall downside scenarios.

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Defendants will come under greater pressure to forestall lawsuits by scurrying to reach licensing deals with writers, musicians and artists.

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Given the abandonment of policy that might forestall more severe events like the Texas floods by reducing the emissions that cause them, Americans are left to the daunting task of adapting.

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So this was largely a case of harm forestalled rather than harm halted: implementation is easier in such cases, as no ‘making good’ is required.

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Related Words

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