preempt
UK/pri:'empt/US
GREA1
Definitions
v.
To act in advance to prevent or block something; to forestall
先发制人；抢先阻止
v.
To take the place of; to displace (e.g. scheduled programming)
取代；中断（如预定节目）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedpre- (before) + empt (from Latin emere, 'to take, buy') = 'to take beforehand.' Note: empt- comes from emere, NOT from capere — they both mean roughly 'take,' but are different Latin roots in the same family. The original sense was buying land before anyone else (pre-emption); today to preempt is to act first and take the option away from someone — preempt criticism, preempt an attack.
Root cap still carries 163 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.preempt criticism先发制人化解批评
- 2.preempt a strike抢先阻止罢工
- 3.preempt an attack抢先阻止攻击
Example Sentences
- 1.
The company issued a statement to preempt any criticism.
- 2.
A breaking-news bulletin preempted the scheduled show.