forestall

verb

fore·​stall fȯr-ˈstȯl How to pronounce forestall (audio)
forestalled; forestalling; forestalls

transitive verb

1
: to exclude, hinder, or prevent (something) by prior occupation or measures
Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict.
2
: to get ahead of (something) : anticipate
detailed explanations intended to forestall questions
3
: to prevent the normal trading in (something) by buying or diverting goods or by persuading people to raise prices
forestalling the wheat harvest and selling it at three times its cost …George Bernard Shaw
4
archaic : intercept
… he sprang like a cat to the top of the cabin and ran aft. But his pursuers forestalling him, he doubled back across the cabin …Jack London
5
obsolete : obstruct, beset
forestaller noun
forestallment noun
Choose the Right Synonym for forestall

prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand.

prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable.

measures taken to prevent leaks

anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first.

anticipated the question by making a statement

forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course.

hoped to forestall the sale

Examples of forestall in a Sentence

Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict. His comments were meant to forestall criticism of his proposal. He forestalled critics by offering a defense of the project.
Recent Examples on the Web The General Assembly should begin work in earnest in next year’s session on a comprehensive plan to forestall these calamities. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2024 Respondents were polled just days after the news broke that Washington had placed its first hold in years on a weapons shipment to Israel to try to forestall an Israeli invasion of Rafah. Daniel Silverman, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2024 Just before these Games, the far-right won big in Europe-wide elections, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to call a surprise legislative vote in the apparent hope of forestalling its momentum. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 12 Aug. 2024 If these practices are not forestalled soon, the least scrupulous actors will quickly accrue power and the fancy lobbyists and lawyers that come along with it. Adam Clair, Vox, 5 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forestall 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forestall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from forstall act of waylaying, from Old English foresteall, from fore- + steall position, stall

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of forestall was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near forestall

Cite this Entry

“Forestall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forestall. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

forestall

verb
fore·​stall fōr-ˈstȯl How to pronounce forestall (audio)
fȯr-
: to keep out, interfere with, or prevent by steps taken in advance
forestaller noun
forestallment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on forestall

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