forestall

verb

fore·​stall fȯr-ˈstȯl 

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

fȯr-ˈstȯl-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• avert
• head off
• help
• obviate
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

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

Article Two of the Constitution included the office mainly to ensure a smooth and immediate transition in the event of a president's death, forestalling any uncertainty over succession. —Ron Elving, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024

Today, the question is whether Beijing will agree to correct its policies, as Japan did, forestalling a campaign by G-7 countries to impose more aggressive restrictions on the growing volume of Chinese exports. —Daniel H. Rosen, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024

But demonstrating his fitness for office may provide his surest path to reëlection and, at this stage, the country’s best shot at forestalling the chaos and dysfunction of a second Trump term. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2024

As the Ukrainians steadily have destroyed or damaged around a dozen of the Black Sea Fleet’s three-dozen pre-war ships, the Russians are trying harder to forestall further hits. —David Axe, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Frances spends the rest of her life trying to forestall that event – only to be found dead in her study after summoning her grandniece Annie to hear her will. —Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024

But polar ice melt is counteracting that trend and has forestalled any decision point about whether to add a negative leap second. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Conversely, a ruling that the antiabortion doctors in this case lack the legal standing to sue could forestall other challenges. —David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

So simply forestalling the ascent of powerful autocracies may eventually help democratic values spread into once inhospitable places. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

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

Kids Definition

forestall

verb

fore·​stall fōr-ˈstȯl 

fȯr-

: to keep out, interfere with, or prevent by steps taken in advance

forestaller noun

forestallment

-ˈstȯl-mənt 

noun