forestall

[ fohr-stawl, fawr- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance:

   to forestall a riot by deploying police.

   Synonyms: obstruct, intercept, obviate, preclude

2. to act beforehand with or get ahead of; anticipate.

   Synonyms: avert, prevent

3. to buy up (goods) in advance in order to increase the price when resold.
4. to prevent sales at (a fair, market, etc.) by buying up or diverting goods.

forestall

/ fɔːˈstɔːl /

verb

1. to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
2. to anticipate
3. 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

Derived Forms

• foreˈstalment, noun
• foreˈstaller, noun

Other Words From

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of forestall¹

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

Example Sentences

McMahon’s ruling may also undermine what has been a growing trend toward the licensing of copyrighted content by AI developers — in part to forestall copyright infringement claims.

From Los Angeles Times

The new contract may help him address its persistent quality problems, and certainly forestalls a machinists’ strike that was threatened to start Thursday, the deadline for union members to ratify the contract.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is what this is all about. It is a political movement to forestall, to roll back, to destroy, the effort to make American democracy work for everyone."

From Salon

While the ongoing Israeli assault should be ended to prevent further death and looming mass starvation in Gaza, it should also be ended to forestall yet another ruinous American war in the Middle East.

From Salon

A Recipe for Total Control: Reviving a Mao-era surveillance campaign, Chinese authorities are tracking residents, schoolchildren and businesses to forestall any potential unrest.

From New York Times

Related Words

• anticipate
• avert
• deter
• hinder
• preclude
• prevent
• thwart