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   pre·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 forestallpreventsteal a march onanticipateget in beforeinformal:get one's retaliation in first
   • ▪ 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): North American "the violence preempted regular programming"
   • 2. acquire or appropriate (something) in advance: "many tables were already preempted by family parties" Similar commandeertake possession ofoccupyseizearrogateappropriatetake overtakeacquiresecurereserve
   • ▪ take (something, especially public land) for oneself so as to have the right of preemption. North American
   • 3. make a preemptive bid.

   noun

   • 1. a preemptive bid.

   Word Origin mid 19th century: back-formation from preemption.

   Derivatives

   • 1. preemptor noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • E

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • T

     1

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