pre-empt
Britishverb
-
(tr) to acquire in advance of or to the exclusion of others; appropriate
-
(tr) to occupy (public land) in order to acquire a prior right to purchase
-
(intr) bridge to make a high opening bid, often on a weak hand, to shut out opposition bidding
Other Word Forms
Vocabulary lists containing pre-empt
2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (M-Z)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Companies have had mixed opinions about the ingredient regulatory effort, since some have pushed Congress to pass rules that could pre-empt a patchwork of state laws.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
So rather than get upset every time that happens, it’s better to pre-empt the accidents with as much detailed preparation as possible.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
However, both efforts have run into opposition from advocates concerned that they would pre-empt stronger, state-level attempts to regulate AI.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
But Mr. Durnell argues that only the federal law—not regulation taken by EPA under the law—can pre-empt state claims, though there’s no practical difference in this case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
I'm going to pre-empt and build the cutest little bird's nest for you.
From The Mystery of Metropolisville by Edward Eggleston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
