pre-empt

/ prɪˈɛmpt /

verb

1. tr to acquire in advance of or to the exclusion of others; appropriate
2. tr to occupy (public land) in order to acquire a prior right to purchase
3. intr bridge to make a high opening bid, often on a weak hand, to shut out opposition bidding

Derived Forms

• pre-ˈemptor, noun
• pre-ˈemptory, adjective

Example Sentences

In a pre-written letter addressed to "The World" and sent to an unnamed witness months earlier, Routh appears to pre-empt a failed assassination attempt on the former president.

From BBC

Sir Keir replied that he would not "pre-empt" the Budget, due in October, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out the government's tax and spending plans.

From BBC

Party treasurer Stuart Campbell McDonald noted that members were facing cost-of-living pressures and said the SNP was seeking to pre-empt cancellations by offering options to reduce or skip payments.

From BBC

"We are bringing forward planned track work. We are fitting monitoring equipment to pre-empt future failures."

From BBC

Ms Griffiths conceded the "majority of people" were unhappy with the proposals but said she did not want to pre-empt the consultation into the policy, the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which ends on 7 March.

From BBC