preempt

or pre-empt

[pree-empt]

See more synonyms for preempt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to occupy (land) in order to establish a prior right to buy.
to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for oneself; arrogate: a political issue preempted by the opposition party.
to take the place of because of priorities, reconsideration, rescheduling, etc.; supplant: The special newscast preempted the usual television program.

verb (used without object)

Bridge. to make a preemptive bid.
to forestall or prevent (something anticipated) by acting first; preclude; head off: an effort to preempt inflation.

noun

Bridge. a preemptive bid.

Origin of preempt

1840–50, Americanism; back formation from preemption

Related formspre·emp·ti·ble, adjectivepre·emp·tor

[pree-emp-tawr, -ter] /priˈɛmp tɔr, -tər/, nounpre·emp·to·ry

[pree-emp-tuh-ree] /priˈɛmp tə ri/, adjectiveun·pre·empt·ed, adjective

Synonyms for preempt

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. claim, appropriate, usurp.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for preempting

confiscate, acquire, expropriate, seize, assume, arrogate, anticipate, commandeer, appropriate, obtain, bump, sequester, take, usurp, annex, accroach

Examples from the Web for preempting

Contemporary Examples of preempting

Venus is like an angel on your shoulder, preempting any rash moves.
What the Stars Predict for Your Week
Starsky + Cox
August 20, 2011
“I was there,” he wrote on his blog, preempting the next hit.
Russia's Amazing Drugs and Hookers Scandal
Michael Idov
March 23, 2010

Historical Examples of preempting

I felt like going into the Northwest and preempting a homestead.
One Way Out
William Carleton
She stepped through her curtain and said gaily: "You're preempting my privilege, Philip."
Claire
Leslie Burton Blades
He called up both women, alleging a visit to strike headquarters to one, and preempting the other for the afternoon.
Mountain
Clement Wood