preempted
Americanadjective
-
(of land) occupied in order to establish a prior right to buy.
In 1860 the blacksmith arrived in Kansas to buy his preempted claim of 120 acres on Mission Creek.
-
acquired or appropriated ahead of others; taken for oneself.
The group of retired friends lunched together every day in a preempted room at the Exchange Club.
-
Government. being or relating to an area of oversight reserved by a particular level of government, especially an area that would otherwise be under the authority of a lower level of government.
Except in the federally preempted domain of warnings based on smoking and health, tobacco regulation is under state control.
-
replaced or set aside because of other priorities, reconsideration, changes in scheduling, etc..
The preempted programs were usually game shows or reruns of primetime sitcoms.
-
forestalled or prevented by advance action.
Knowledge acquired through a preempted attack may inform national response and help deter future attacks.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preempted
First recorded in 1860–70; preempt ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; preempt ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
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.
It may be that the number of beneficiary designations and transfer-on-death deeds preempted an official probate process.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Their resignations also preempted a push to expel the representatives.
From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2026
It's unclear whether The Bachelorette, which was already filmed, is simply being preempted for a period of time or if it will never see the light of day.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
In a recently filed lawsuit, the Department of Public Health argued that local ordinances prohibiting syringe programs in El Dorado County were preempted by state law, making them unenforceable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2024
Now Naheed felt silly, but when she turned to ask Eliza what had happened, Mrs. Salinger preempted her.
From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
