preempt

American  

[pree-empt] / priˈɛmpt /

Or pre-empt

verb (used with object)

1. to occupy (land) in order to establish a prior right to buy.

   Synonyms:

   usurp, appropriate, claim

2. to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for oneself; arrogate.

   a political issue preempted by the opposition party.

3. to take the place of because of priorities, reconsideration, rescheduling, etc.; supplant.

   The special newscast preempted the usual television program.

4. to forestall or prevent (something anticipated) by acting first; preclude; head off.

   an effort to preempt inflation.

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verb (used without object)

1. Bridge. to make a preemptive bid.

noun

1. Bridge. a preemptive bid.

Other Word Forms

• preemptor
  noun
• preemptible
  adjective
• preemptory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preempt

An Americanism first recorded in 1840–50; back formation from preemption

Explanation

If everyone at the lunch meeting is vying for the last roast beef sandwich, but you grab it first, you preempt your colleagues from getting it. Let them eat liverwurst! Preempt means to displace or take something before others can. Preempt combines the Latin prefix prae-, "before," with emere, "to buy." Think old-fashioned land grabs and midnight madness sales. It can also mean to replace one thing with another that’s more important. For instance, if the president is speaking or the football game is running long, brace yourself: the network just might preempt your favorite show.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preempt

The Foreign Office explained at the time that it had disclosed the incident to preempt any attempt by the perpetrators to manipulate the footage.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

He stressed that Gottheimer has expressed opposition to some legislation that would preempt state AI laws.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

ANZ Research’s Dhiraj Nim believes it will be difficult to preempt how the GDP series will change under the new framework, with significant changes to the base year and input data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

Omidyar Network Chief Executive Mike Kubzansky said in a statement that he is aware of the risks posed by poorly drafted rules, but the solution isn’t to preempt state and local laws.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025

Chili peppers, squashes, amaranths, and chenopods are other crops of which different but related species were domesticated in Mesoamerica and South America, since no species was able to spread fast enough to preempt the others.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond