pre-emptive
Britishadjective
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of, involving, or capable of pre-emption
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bridge (of a high bid) made to shut out opposition bidding
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military designed to reduce or destroy an enemy's attacking strength before it can use it
a pre-emptive strike
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
The trees were felled "as a pre-emptive action" for a future development proposal to extend the premises at the site.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
She said the US defence department took "pre-emptive planning measures" as a result of that report.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Because of its small territory, Israel built its national security around a doctrine of "offensive defence", relying on pre-emptive, long-range strikes against enemy targets, she said.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
CGS maintains an overweight rating on Malaysian banks, supported by prospects of earnings re-rating from pre-emptive provisions reversals, margin recovery in 2026 and expectations of higher dividend payout ratios across most banks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
To this proceeding the Government objected, upon the ground that the Crown had a pre-emptive right, and that the land belonged to the Indians only so long as they might choose to occupy it.
From Canadian Notabilities, Volume 1 by Dent, John Charles
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.
