Meaning & use
preempt
To take action in advance to prevent something from happening or to gain an advantage over someone.
See it in a sentence
The company preempted criticism by publishing its safety report before regulators demanded it.
She preempted his objection by explaining the reasoning behind the decision first.
A note on using this word
In broadcasting, a scheduled show can also be 'preempted,' meaning replaced by another program, such as breaking news.
Words with a similar meaning
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