Forestall
/fɔːrˈstɔːl/
verbC1
Definition
Forestall means to stop or delay something by doing something before it happens. It usually involves acting early to avoid a problem or a bad event. People often use it when talking about preventing difficulties or dangers.
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See It in Action
To prevent or delay something by acting early
- •The government tried to forestall a financial crisis by changing policies.
- •She took medicine to forestall the flu before symptoms appeared.
- •They built a fence to forestall animals from entering the garden.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'forestall' like 'stop,' but you stop something before it even starts or gets worse.
- ✓Picture a person standing in front of a door to stop someone from entering—this is like forestalling.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you fix a small problem early so it doesn’t become a big problem later.
- ✓Sounds like 'for-stall' → imagine someone standing at a 'stall' or small shop to block others from going in first.
- ✓In stories, heroes often forestall danger by acting before the bad event happens.
- ✓NOT like 'wait' (doing nothing), forestall means acting early to prevent.
- ✓NOT like 'react' (respond after something happens), forestall is acting before.
- ✓NOT like 'ignore' (do nothing), forestall means to take action to stop something.
Try Other Words
- •Prevent: stop something from happening (Use when the timing of action is not important)
- •Avoid: keep away from something bad (Use when focusing on not experiencing a problem)
- •Preempt: act before others to stop something (Use when emphasizing acting first to stop a problem)
- •Hinder: make something difficult to happen (Use when focusing on slowing or making it harder)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'fore-' (before) + 'stall' (to stop or delay)
- •Etymology: From Old English 'forestallian,' meaning to place before or stop beforehand
- •Historical development: Originally meant to stop someone from entering a market before others; now means to prevent or delay generally
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in formal or written English to describe early action to prevent problems
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you forestalled a problem by acting early? What happened?
•How is forestalling different from just reacting to a problem after it occurs?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company tried to forestall ___ by improving product quality before complaints started.
2.To forestall illness, it’s important to ___ healthy habits early.
3.Unlike waiting for problems, forestall means to ___ problems before they begin.
4.The city built barriers to forestall ___ during the festival.
5.She took quick action to forestall ___ consequences of the mistake.
6.Forestall often requires ___ thinking and planning ahead.
7.When leaders forestall conflicts, they ___ future problems from growing.