preempt

play

verb pre·empt \ prē-ˈem(p)t \

Definition of preempt

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 :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

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

play \-ˈem(p)-tər\ noun

See preempt defined for English-language learners

See preempt defined for kids

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 of preempt from the Web

At the same time, mindful readers stop reading during a doxing siege—and call the police to preempt the word being made flesh.

— virginia heffernan, WIRED, "The Great Tech Panic: The Internet Is the Uncanniest Valley," 25 Aug. 2017
The U.S. argued federal law preempts the city’s effort.

— erik larson, Bloomberg.com, "Trump’s DOJ Picks Food Fight With New York City Over Calorie-Display Law," 15 Aug. 2017
Some Virginia cities have passed laws purporting to bar guns, but the state’s permissive carry laws explicitly preempt local ordinances.

— david frum, The Atlantic, "The Chilling Effects of Openly Displayed Firearms," 12 Aug. 2017
Current versions of the bathroom proposal would preempt parts of local nondiscrimination ordinances that include protections for transgender people.

— shannon najmabadi, star-telegram, "Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for ‘all our problems in America’," 6 Aug. 2017
Certainly NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who has previously tried to negotiate a peace deal between Oakley and Dolan, would urge a resolution that removes the dispute from the limelight and preempts litigation.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Charles Oakley Reaches Plea Deal with MSG Prosecutors but Civil Action may Remain," 5 Aug. 2017
In 2013, the state agreed to a settlement blocking seven sections of the law that were found to be preempted by federal law.

— mike cason, AL.com, "Rep. Micky Hammon, sponsor of immigration bill, won't run next year," 18 July 2017
The ruling by Hong Kong's Court of First Instance was preempted by a rare interpretation of the Basic Law by mainland China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

— chicagotribune.com, "The long arm of China's law is coming down heavy on Hong Kong," 17 July 2017
A night in jail preempted a year's worth of endless meetings with lawyers, counselors and addiction support groups.

— sarah coleman, Good Housekeeping, "My Brother Isn't "Crazy," He Suffers from Schizophrenia," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'preempt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of preempt

back-formation from preemption

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1850

See Words from the same year

preempt Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

annex, attach, claim, confiscate, impound, repossess, sequester; assume, collar, grab, grasp, snatch, steal, wrench, wrest; despoil, loot, pillage; encroach, infringe, invade, occupy, preoccupy, trespass; embezzle, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, peculate

PREEMPT Defined for English Language Learners

preempt

play

verb

Definition of preempt for English Language Learners

: to prevent (something) from happening
: to take the place of (something)
: to be shown instead of (another television program)

Law Dictionary

preempt

play

transitive verb pre·empt \ prē-ˈempt \

legal Definition of preempt

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