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.
Dozens of places across Hungary have imposed restrictions on water use to pre-empt service outages.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 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
Jones sought to pre-empt an argument that the impending speech fell in the public domain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
“I generally agree with the direction the White House is taking to pre-empt state laws on AI,” he said in an interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
I think I’ll act upon Mr. Jones’s suggestion, and sell some of the timber across the river, and pre-empt immediately.
From The Cabin on the Prairie by Pearson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
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.
