Pre-empt
/priːˈɛmpt/
verbB2
Definition
Pre-empt means to act early or before someone else to stop or avoid something from happening. It often means doing something first to prevent a problem or to take control of a situation before others can. It can also mean replacing or taking the place of something planned.
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See It in Action
To act before something happens to prevent it
- •The company pre-empted a competitor by releasing their product early.
- •The government pre-empted the crisis by introducing new rules.
- •She pre-empted his question by answering it first.
To replace or take the place of something planned
- •The special news program pre-empted the usual evening show.
- •The emergency meeting pre-empted the scheduled conference.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "pre-empt" like "stop" but done early, before the problem starts
- ✓Picture a goalkeeper jumping to catch the ball before the other team can score
- ✓It's the feeling when you solve a problem before it even appears, like fixing a leak before water comes out
- ✓Sounds like "pre-empt" → imagine "pre" means before, and "empt" sounds like "attempt" → so you try before others try
- ✓In stories, heroes often pre-empt a danger by acting before the enemy attacks
- ✓NOT like "react" (which happens after something occurs) — pre-empt is acting before
- ✓NOT like "wait" or "ignore" — pre-empt is active and early action
- ✓NOT like "interrupt" (which stops something already happening) — pre-empt stops something before it starts
Try Other Words
- •Anticipate: to expect and prepare for something before it happens (Use when you want to show preparation rather than direct action)
- •Forestall: to stop something by acting before it happens (Use in formal contexts similar to pre-empt)
- •Interrupt: to stop something that is already happening (Use when action happens during an event, not before)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "pre-" (before) + root "empt" from "emere" (to take or buy)
- •Etymology: From Latin "prae-" (before) and "emere" (to take), meaning to take before others
- •Historical development: Used since the early 1900s in English to mean acting before others to prevent or replace
- •Modern usage: Common in business, military, and media to describe early action or replacing scheduled content
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when acting early (pre-empting) helped you avoid a problem?
•How is pre-empting different from just reacting to something after it happens?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company pre-empted the market ___ by launching their product ___ the competitor.
2.To avoid confusion, she pre-empted the question ___ by giving a clear answer first.
3.Unlike waiting for problems to occur, pre-empt means taking ___ action ___ the problem starts.
4.The emergency broadcast pre-empted the regular show ___ because of urgent news.
5.He tried to pre-empt the criticism ___ by explaining his plan early.
6.Pre-empting a problem often shows ___ thinking and ___ planning.
7.When you pre-empt someone’s move, you act ___ they can act.