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Preempt: meaning, example and synonyms

Preemptv. To act in advance so as to prevent something from happening or to forestall another's action.

Flashcard for Preempt (verb): to act in advance so as to prevent something from happening or to forestall another's action. Example: Anticipating the objections of local farmers, the planners preempted criticism by publishing a detailed study of the reservoir's effect on groundwater. Synonyms: forestall, prevent, anticipate, head off. Antonyms: follow, respond belatedly, react. Memory tip: PRE (before) + empt: you act first, before the problem arrives. Illustration: a woman in a raincoat opening an umbrella over a picnic table just before the first raindrops fall from dark clouds, while friends look up in surprise.

Example

Anticipating the objections of local farmers, the planners preempted criticism by publishing a detailed study of the reservoir's effect on groundwater.

Part of speech
verb
Synonyms
forestall, prevent, anticipate, head off
Antonyms
follow, respond belatedly, react
Memory tip
PRE (before) + empt: you act first, before the problem arrives.

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Check yourself: Preempt in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

Hoping to ______ a hostile takeover, the company's board quietly bought back a large share of its own stock before rival investors could act.

Question 2

The candidate's aides released the unflattering records themselves, a move designed to ______ reporters who were preparing to publish the same documents the following week.

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