preemptive C2 Topic:Cause, Change & Process US /pɹiːˈɛmp.tɪv/ See IPA manual Freq #32677 Meanings 1 adj designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence A preemptive business offer. 2 adj Made so as to deter an anticipated unpleasant situation. A preemptive attack on the enemy. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · designed or having the... pre-emptive ↔ Opposites postemptive Word family Derived forms nonpreemptiveprebuttalpreemptively Common collocations preemptive right Adjective + noun Etymology From preempt + -ive. Topics Cause, Change & Process External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # preemptive **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /pɹiːˈɛmp.tɪv/ **Frequency rank:** 32677 ## Meanings 1. designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence 2. Made so as to deter an anticipated unpleasant situation. ## Examples - A preemptive business offer. - A preemptive attack on the enemy. ## Synonyms - pre-emptive ## Antonyms - postemptive ## Derived Forms - nonpreemptive - prebuttal - preemptively ## Etymology From preempt + -ive. ## Topics - Cause, Change & Process markdown