forestall
[ fohr-stawl, fawr- ]
/ foʊrˈstɔl, fɔr- /
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verb (used with object)
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.
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Origin of forestall
OTHER WORDS FROM forestall
fore·stall·er, nounfore·stall·ment, forestalment, nounun·fore·stalled, adjectiveWords nearby forestall
forespeak, forespent, forest, forestaff, forestage, forestall, forestation, forestay, forestaysail, forester, forest green
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for forestall
British Dictionary definitions for forestall
forestall
/ (fɔːˈstɔːl) /
verb (tr)
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)
Derived forms of forestall
forestaller, nounforestalment or esp US forestallment, nounWord Origin for forestall
C14 forestallen to waylay, from Old English foresteall an ambush, from fore- in front of + steall place
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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