forestalled; forestalling; forestalls
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
George Bernard Shaw4
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
Jack London
forestaller
noun
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 same could be said of his recent predecessors: Pope John Paul II, who met with or wrote to half a dozen world leaders and activists in 2003 in an effort to forestall the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and Pope Benedict, who spoke against the war then in progress in 2006.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
But even better, omalizumab can forestall allergic reactions at the source.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
The bottom line: Big pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS went deep into physical retail at the very time when consumers were moving online, but managed to forestall some troubles thanks to a boom in COVID testing and vaccinations (all of which led to pharmacist burnout and shortages).
—Dan Primack, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Hiring freezes, furloughs and layoffs may seem dramatic for a city that only a few short years ago had 16% fiscal reserves, but taking action today will forestall more dramatic cuts should the economy take a turn for the worse.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for forestall
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Paul Elie, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
But even better, omalizumab can forestall allergic reactions at the source.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
The bottom line: Big pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS went deep into physical retail at the very time when consumers were moving online, but managed to forestall some troubles thanks to a boom in COVID testing and vaccinations (all of which led to pharmacist burnout and shortages).
—Dan Primack, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
Hiring freezes, furloughs and layoffs may seem dramatic for a city that only a few short years ago had 16% fiscal reserves, but taking action today will forestall more dramatic cuts should the economy take a turn for the worse.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for forestall
Cite this Entry
“Forestall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forestall. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
forestall
verb
fore·stall
fōr-ˈstȯl 
fȯr-
: to keep out, interfere with, or prevent by steps taken in advance
forestaller
noun
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