as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the thoughtless teenagers had preempted front-row seats that were reserved for the guests of honor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preempt
Recognizing this dynamic can prepare researchers to preempt potential issues and manage unintended harm in a community that is already struggling to rebuild social trust.
—
Christopher P. Davey, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
If nothing else, Collier’s media hit seems to have preempted any closer examination into why the W deemed its newest rights deal worthy of a celebratory canter in the first place.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Sinclair and Nexstar also both asserted that they were justified in originally deciding to preempt Kimmel’s show.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Kimmel's show received its highest ratings in a decade despite Sinclair and Nexstar continuing to preempt the show during its first night.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Christopher P. Davey, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
If nothing else, Collier’s media hit seems to have preempted any closer examination into why the W deemed its newest rights deal worthy of a celebratory canter in the first place.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Sinclair and Nexstar also both asserted that they were justified in originally deciding to preempt Kimmel’s show.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Kimmel's show received its highest ratings in a decade despite Sinclair and Nexstar continuing to preempt the show during its first night.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
Verb
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The Unified Government can seize someone’s home in this way if the residents don’t pay all their property taxes for three years.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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Leveraging geopolitical insights allows businesses to build resilient partnerships and seize emerging opportunities before rivals.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bennett might return from injury and usurp both Ringo and Jackson, which appeared a possibility before the injury.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Tata Sons followed this with an equally detailed press release accusing Mistry of running the business badly and even trying to usurp control of operating companies.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ogles’ phone was confiscated by the FBI in 2024.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Oct. 2025
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Jones had asserted that the shootings were staged as part of a federal plot to confiscate Americans’ guns.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Casanovas’ use of the brand as a platform for self-expression has clearly grabbed attention among his Gen Z peers.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
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So instead of getting out your sad, chipped mixing bowls as your backup serving pieces, grab a three-piece set of these Trudeau porcelain serving bowls.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More recently, two pieces of 16th-century armor were returned to the Louvre Museum almost 40 years after they were stolen.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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San Diego police arrested a person suspected of stealing a fire engine in south San Diego and driving it up Interstate 5 to Fallbrook Saturday evening, officials said.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the memoir, Federline claimed that he was awarded $20,000 per month in child support for their two sons.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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Could the novel claim the title of the first Canadian novel when Canada wasn’t even Canada yet?—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the 2024-25 season, Forest converted 30 of their 78 big chances (39 per cent), with Chris Wood scoring 13 of his 28.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Kareem Hunt, therefore, is more successful converting short yardage than the Tush Push.—
Sam McDowell
October 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nothing can be done, at this point, about the dubious premise that mainstream Jews and gentiles in 2020s Los Angeles occupy separate social worlds.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Finding effective ways to tackle post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, especially those who’ve seen combat, is a worthy cause that has occupied the minds of many researchers over the years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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