pre-empt
Britishverb
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(tr) to acquire in advance of or to the exclusion of others; appropriate
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(tr) to occupy (public land) in order to acquire a prior right to purchase
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(intr) bridge to make a high opening bid, often on a weak hand, to shut out opposition bidding
Other Word Forms
- pre-emptor noun
- pre-emptory adjective
Vocabulary lists containing pre-empt
2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (M-Z)
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 3
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Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 5
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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.
“Nobody was intending to pre-empt the New Jersey state gaming commission,” he says.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
The next day, Einhorn said she wanted to acquire world rights and pre-empt an auction.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025
Rachel Reeves said she would not "pre-empt" any downgrade by the OBR, but was "determined that we don't simply accept the forecasts but we defy them".
From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025
It's obvious that these other plans were being circulated in order to pre-empt his:
From Salon • Apr. 23, 2025
The United States government not only taxes, fines, imprisons and hangs women, but it allows them to pre-empt lands, register ships, and take out passport and naturalization papers.
From An Account of the Proceedings on the Trial of Susan B. Anthony, on the Charge of Illegal Voting by Anonymous
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.
