Word: pre-empt (verb)

Associations

"Pre-empt" means to take action before someone else does or before something happens, often to prevent or control a situation.

• Example 1: The company pre-empted its competitor by launching a new product first. (They acted before the competitor.)
• Example 2: The government pre-empted a possible crisis by introducing new laws. (They acted early to avoid problems.)
• Example 3: She pre-empted his question by answering it herself. (She spoke before he could.)

A well-known synonym is "prevent," but "pre-empt" often means acting early to stop something or take control, while "prevent" means stopping something from happening altogether.

Substitution

Instead of "pre-empt," you can say:

• "anticipate" (expect and act before)
• "forestall" (stop something by acting early)
• "prevent" (stop from happening)

Each changes the meaning slightly. "Pre-empt" is more about taking action first, sometimes to gain advantage.

Deconstruction

• Prefix "pre-" means "before."
• Root "empt" comes from Latin "emere," meaning "to take." So, "pre-empt" literally means "to take before."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you acted before someone else to avoid a problem?
• How is "pre-empt" different from just "stopping" something after it starts?
• In what situations is it important to "pre-empt" rather than react later?