preempt

verb

prē-ˈem(p)t How to pronounce preempt (audio)
Definition of preemptnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preempt In February 2025, a state appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict, ruling that Missouri’s laws requiring companies to warn of dangers are not preempted by federal law. — Sarah J. Morath, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The plaintiffs argued that the provisions violated or were preempted by the National Voting Registration Act, as well as a 2018 consent decree between Arizona's secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Trump’s lawyers said federal law preempted or overrode the state law. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The court held that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim when the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a cancer warning on the product label. — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
  1. seize
  2. usurp
  3. confiscate
  4. grab
  5. steal
  6. claim
  7. convert
  8. occupy
Verb
  • Trump has also mused about taking control of the strait by force, possibly by seizing one or more strategic islands held by Iran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • The goal was limited to driving out the Iraqi troops who'd seized Kuwait.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 18 July 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • The update indicated that Maersk is set to fall behind CMA CGM for second-largest container shipping capacity worldwide by July 2027, while Hapag-Lloyd could be usurped by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in February 2028.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
  • Beulah's spurned heir Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) calls up the mysterious Mariana (Raoul Max Trujillo) to help with his many problems, which include his ranch-usurping half-brother Rob-Will and those Duttons from Montana.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of usurp
Verb
  • Romanian authorities indicted the Tate brothers on the charges in June 2023, placing them on house arrest and confiscating several of their assets.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • The lawsuit alleges that Sheriff Robert Luna failed to confiscate Giandomenico’s phone after learning of the photos and tried to conceal from Nancy Lemus that the images existed.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • With the back tyre in the water, grab the front brake and stand up off the bike.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • Ethiopian content creator Kalu Putik has grabbed the attention of the fashion world with his outfits made from old clothes, shoes, and garbage scraps.
    — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Henderson, who was identified by witnesses as a former employee of the restaurant, is accused of serving as Child’s getaway driver, using a maroon pickup that was recently reported stolen in Canyon County, police said.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • He was expelled from Congress while facing criminal charges over stealing from donors and his campaign, fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits and lying to Congress about his wealth.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • Victor Valladares of Resilience OC, a nonprofit that advocates for the Latino community, claimed that the federal government has access to Flock's data.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • So the players have to lose every contest once to get to Room 8 and discover how to claim ultimate victory, then win every contest to get back to the beginning and correctly count some rice.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of claim
Verb
  • Despite missing only two greens in regulation, Scheffler failed to convert five putts from inside 15 feet.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Both could have added to their tallies by converting penalties over the past five weeks, but Messi has missed two during this World Cup and Mbappe one.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of convert
Verb
  • That convergence is drawing together businesses that once occupied separate corners of the market, from consumer staples companies selling food to biotech firms developing medicines and veterinary providers offering increasingly sophisticated care.
    — Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • Swanson was occupied with the training staff after the game and was unavailable for comment.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of occupy

Browse Nearby Words

preeminent
preempt
preempted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on preempt

Nglish: Translation of preempt for Spanish Speakers

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