preempt

verb
UK: /priːˈempt/
US: /priːˈempt/

  1. To take action before someone else does, preventing them from doing it.

    1. I had to preempt him and send the email first.
    2. The company decided to preempt the competition by launching the product early.

  2. To replace or override something with something else.

    1. The new law will preempt the old one.
    2. Federal regulations preempt state laws in this area, unfortunately.

  3. To interrupt or discontinue something temporarily.

    1. The news bulletin will preempt the regularly scheduled program.
    2. The game was preempted by a special news report regarding the hurricane.

Synonyms

forestall supplant displace prevent interrupt obviate supersede
preempt adjective

  1. Having the right to preempt or take precedence.

    1. The preempt right was given to him for the house.
    2. The developer had preempt claims on the land before anyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "preempt" in English means: To take action before someone else does, preventing them from doing it., To replace or override something with something else., To interrupt or discontinue something temporarily..

The phonetic transcription of "preempt" is /priːˈempt/ in British English and /priːˈempt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "preempt": forestall, supplant, displace, prevent, interrupt, obviate, supersede.

Example usage of "preempt": "I had to preempt him and send the email first.". More examples on the page.