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- Dictionarypre·empt/prēˈem(p)t/
verb
- 1. take action in order to prevent (an anticipated event) from happening; forestall: "the second session will focus on policies to preempted problems" Similar
- 2. acquire or appropriate (something) in advance: "many tables were already preempted by family parties" Similar
noun
- 1. a preemptive bid.
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to do or say something before someone so that you make their words or actions unnecessary or not effective: The minister held a press conference in order to pre-empt criticism in the newspapers. You need to be prepared and preempt the impact of the change before it happens. US.
The meaning of PREEMPT is to acquire (something, such as land) by preemption. How to use preempt in a sentence.
PREEMPT definition: 1. to prevent something from happening by taking action first: 2. If a broadcast is preempted, it…. Learn more.
to do or say something before someone so that you make their words or actions unnecessary or not effective: The senator held a press conference in order to pre-empt criticism in the newspapers. You need to be prepared and preempt the impact of the change before it happens. US.
pre-empt somebody/something to do or say something before somebody else does. She was just about to apologize when he pre-empted her. I do not want to pre-empt anything that the treasurer is going to say. It would be wrong for me to pre-empt any future decision the committee might make.
If you pre-empt an action, you prevent it from happening by doing something which makes it unnecessary or impossible.
vb. 1. ( tr) to acquire in advance of or to the exclusion of others; appropriate. 2. (Law) ( tr) chiefly US to occupy (public land) in order to acquire a prior right to purchase. 3. (Bridge) ( intr) bridge to make a high opening bid, often on a weak hand, to shut out opposition bidding. pre-ˈemptor n. pre-ˈemptory adj.
If you pre-empt an action, you prevent it from happening by doing something which makes it unnecessary or impossible.
1. to occupy (land) in order to establish a prior right to buy; claim. 2. to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for oneself; arrogate. 3. to take the place of because of priorities, rescheduling, etc.; supplant: A special news report preempted the game show. 4. to forestall or prevent (something anticipated) by acting first; head off.
Preempt means to displace or take something before others can. Preempt combines the Latin prefix prae-, "before," with emere, "to buy." Think old-fashioned land grabs and midnight madness sales. It can also mean to replace one thing with another that’s more important.
