preempt

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   take the place of or have precedence over

   Live broadcast of the presidential debate preempts the regular news hour.

2. 2
   verb

   To appropriate first.

   He preempted that hill to be its king.

3. 3
   verb

   To displace or take the place of (by having higher precedence, etc).

   Floppy disks were preempted by CDs.

4. 4
   verb

   To prevent or beat to the punch, to forestall an expected occurrence by acting first.

   By his statement, the Secretary-General had effectively preempted the usual frustrating debates over questions of fact and law.

Back-formation from preemption.

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