View synonyms for forestall

forestall

[ fohr-stawl, fawr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance:
to forestall a riot by deploying police.
Synonyms: obstruct, intercept, obviate, preclude
to act beforehand with or get ahead of; anticipate.
Synonyms: avert, prevent
to buy up (goods) in advance in order to increase the price when resold.
to prevent sales at (a fair, market, etc.) by buying up or diverting goods.

forestall

/ fɔːˈstɔːl /

verb

to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
to anticipate
1. to prevent or hinder sales at (a market, etc) by buying up merchandise in advance, etc
2. to buy up (merchandise) for profitable resale Compare corner

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Derived Forms

foreˈstalment, noun
foreˈstaller, noun

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Other Words From

fore·staller noun
fore·stallment forestalment noun
unfore·stalled adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of forestall¹

1350–1400; Middle English forstallen, verbal derivative of forstalle, Old English foresteall intervention (to defeat justice), waylaying. See fore-, stall ²

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Word History and Origins

Origin of forestall¹

C14 forestallen to waylay, from Old English foresteall an ambush, from fore- in front of + steall place

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