preempt
or pre-empt
[pree-empt]
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
Synonyms for preempt
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for preempting
confiscate, acquire, expropriate, seize, assume, arrogate, anticipate, commandeer, appropriate, obtain, bump, sequester, take, usurp, annex, accroachExamples from the Web for preempting
Contemporary Examples of preempting
Venus is like an angel on your shoulder, preempting any rash moves.
“I was there,” he wrote on his blog, preempting the next hit.
Historical Examples of preempting
I felt like going into the Northwest and preempting a homestead.
One Way OutWilliam Carleton
She stepped through her curtain and said gaily: "You're preempting my privilege, Philip."
ClaireLeslie Burton Blades
He called up both women, alleging a visit to strike headquarters to one, and preempting the other for the afternoon.
MountainClement Wood