preempt

verb

pre·​empt prē-ˈem(p)t 

preempted; preempting; preempts

transitive verb

1

: to acquire (something, such as land) by preemption

2

: to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself

the movement was then preempted by a lunatic fringe

3

a

: to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over

the program did not appear, having been preempted by a baseball game

—Robert MacNeil

b

law : to replace or supersede (a law) or bar (an action) by the doctrine of preemption

In so doing, the Court held that Congress did not intend to preempt common law contract claims.

—Charas v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 160 F.3d 1259 (1998)

4

: to gain a commanding or preeminent place in

5

: to prevent from happening or taking place : forestall, preclude

intransitive verb

: to make a preemptive bid in bridge

preemptor

prē-ˈem(p)-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• appropriate
• arrogate
• commandeer
• convert
• expropriate
• pirate
• press
• seize
• take over
• usurp

Examples of preempt in a Sentence

The contract preempts lawsuits by the company's clients.

The state law was preempted by a federal law.

The President's speech preempted regular programming.

Recent Examples on the Web

Duffy opened the press conference by calling President Donald Trump and placing him on speakerphone — only for Trump to preempt the announcement by unveiling the plan. —Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025

However, Brailsford wrote in court documents that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that federal law preempts Idaho’s state law on immigration enforcement. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2025

In both cases, the central legal issue is preemption, meaning whether Congress has preempted states from using state laws–including sports betting ones–to regulate a business or activity. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2025

The Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and Property Clause already give federal lawmakers exclusive authority to regulate land owned by the United States, thereby preempting state or local laws. —Tom W Bell, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from preemption

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for preempt

• attempt
• contempt
• exempt
• unkempt
• empt
• tempt
• nonexempt

Kids Definition

preempt

verb

pre·​empt prē-ˈem(p)t 

1

a

: to settle upon (as public land) with the right to purchase before others

b

: to take by such a right

2

: to take before someone else can : appropriate

preempt a seat at the stadium

3

: to take the place of

the president's speech preempted the regular program

preemption

-ˈem(p)-shən

noun

preemptive

-ˈem(p)-tiv

adjective

preemptor

-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

preempt

transitive verb

pre·​empt prē-ˈempt 

1

a

: to acquire (land) by preemption

b

: to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself

a senior user of a trademark could not preempt use of the mark in remote geographical markets

—Mesa Springs Enterprises v. Cutco Indus., 736 P.2d 1251 (1986)

2

a

: to replace or supersede (a law) by preemption

such state laws are not preempted by the federal Energy Reorganization Act of 1974

—National Law Journal

b

: to preclude or bar (an action) by preemption

federal airline deregulation does not preempt claims under state contract law

—National Law Journal