preempt Syllabification: (pre·empt)Pronunciation: /prēˈempt/Definition of preempt verb [with object] 1take action in order to prevent (an anticipated event) from happening; forestall:the government preempted a coup attempt act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something:it looked as if she’d ask him more, but Parr preempted her (of a broadcast) interrupt or replace (a scheduled program):the violence preempted regular programming 2acquire or appropriate (something) in advance:many tables were already preempted by family parties North American take (something, especially public land) for oneself so as to have the right of preemption. 3 [no object] Bridge make a preemptive bid. noun Bridge a preemptive bid. Derivatives preemptorPronunciation: /-tər/ noun Origin: mid 19th century: back-formation from preemptionpreempt in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of preempt in the British & World English dictionary
