preempt

verb (used with object)

to occupy (land) in order to establish a prior right to buy.

to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for oneself; arrogate: a political issue preempted by the opposition party.

to take the place of because of priorities, reconsideration, rescheduling, etc.; supplant: The special newscast preempted the usual television program.

verb (used without object)

Bridge. to make a preemptive bid.

to forestall or prevent (something anticipated) by acting first; preclude; head off: an effort to preempt inflation.

Relevant Questions

What Dose Preempt Mean?

What Preempted Mean?

What Dose Preempt Mean?

What Preempted Mean?

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noun

Bridge. a preemptive bid.

Also, pre-empt.

Origin:
1840–50, Americanism; back formation from preemption

Related forms

pre·emp·ti·ble, adjective

pre·emp·tor

[pree-emp-tawr, -ter] , noun

pre·emp·to·ry

[pree-emp-tuh-ree] , adjective

un·pre·empt·ed, adjective

Synonyms
1. claim, appropriate, usurp.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To preempt

WordNet

preempt
noun
1.	a high bid that is intended to prevent the opposing players from bidding [syn: preemptive bid]
verb
1.	acquire for oneself before others can do so
2.	take the place of or have precedence over; "live broadcast of the presidential debate preempts the regular news hour"; "discussion of the emergency situation will preempt the lecture by the professor"
3.	gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land)
4.	make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge

Example sentences

There are attempts to preempt criticism that some footage may be staged.

Even as leaders converge on some answers, new markets are being set up to

preempt politics.

But our policies are designed to make us alert, not to preempt our professional

judgment.

Preempt may also prove beneficial in reducing or eliminating other

disease-causing bacteria.

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Related Words

override

Matching Quote

"We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the Governments who have declared their independence and maintain it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States."

-James Monroe