preempt
verb
pre·empt
prē-ˈem(p)t 
preempted; preempting; preempts
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
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)
Charas v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 160 F.3d 1259 (1998)4
: to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
: to make a preemptive bid in bridge
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
The administration also contends that the federal law overseeing egg quality and packaging preempts state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The Trump administration's lawsuit argued that the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 should preempt any California state laws related to eggs.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
The lawsuit, which also names Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state officials, contends that a 1970 federal law regulating egg quality and packaging preempts state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
—Esther Sun, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In Florida, where local governments are preempted from instituting sensible heat protections, workers are organizing to pressure employers to sign codes of conduct that protect their workforces.
—Terri Gerstein, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
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Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The Trump administration's lawsuit argued that the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 should preempt any California state laws related to eggs.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
The lawsuit, which also names Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state officials, contends that a 1970 federal law regulating egg quality and packaging preempts state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
—Esther Sun, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In Florida, where local governments are preempted from instituting sensible heat protections, workers are organizing to pressure employers to sign codes of conduct that protect their workforces.
—Terri Gerstein, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preempt. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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)
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
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
National Law JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
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