preempt

preempt — verb

  • preemptpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • preempts3rd person singular
  • preempting-ing form
  • preemptedpast simple

1. to act or speak before someone else does, so that their planned words or actions

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to act or speak before someone else does, so that their planned words or actions lose their impact or become unnecessary.

例句

Kwame preempted his boss's criticism by admitting the mistake before the meeting started.

preempt + noun phrase (criticism) by [doing]

The company preempted a potential lawsuit by recalling the faulty products right away.

preempt + [abstract threat] + by [action]

同義詞
  • forestall

    more formal; suggests acting ahead to block something entirely

  • preclude

    more formal; focuses on making something impossible rather than just acting first

  • head off

    less formal; implies diverting or stopping something in its path

反義詞
  • provoke

    to cause the very reaction one might preempt

  • allow

    to let something happen without intervening

文法句型

preempt + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is typically something unwanted: criticism, complaints, questions, attacks, or lawsuits. The means of preempting is often introduced with by + gerund.

常見錯誤

❌I preempted the rain by bringing an umbrella.
✅I prevented the rain from ruining my day by bringing an umbrella.
💡'preempt' is for human actions or plans, not natural events like rain.
❌She preempted to answer the question.
✅She preempted the question by answering it before it was asked.
💡'preempt' takes a direct object, not an infinitive.

2. to replace one thing with another that is considered more important, especially

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to replace one thing with another that is considered more important, especially television programmes, planned events, or scheduled activities.

例句

The network preempted the evening sitcom to broadcast the president's speech live.

preempt + [TV show] to broadcast [more important content]

Naoko's urgent phone call preempted our lunch meeting, so we rescheduled for the next day.

passive: be preempted by [something more urgent]

同義詞
  • supersede

    more formal; implies something newer or better takes the place of something older

  • replace

    general term; does not carry the implication of greater importance

  • displace

    suggests something is pushed out of its position

反義詞
  • defer to

    to let the original plan or content continue without interruption

文法句型

be preempted by + noun phrase

preempt + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common in broadcasting contexts ('preempt a show'). Frequently passive: 'The regular programming was preempted by...' The subject is usually an event, announcement, or piece of content judged more important than what was scheduled.

常見錯誤

❌Rain preempted our picnic.
✅Rain forced us to cancel our picnic.
💡'preempt' implies one thing actively replaces another in a schedule or broadcast, not that weather ruins plans.

3. to buy or claim land before others have the chance, especially by exercising a l

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to buy or claim land before others have the chance, especially by exercising a legal right to purchase ahead of other possible buyers.

例句

Early settlers preempted large areas of farmland by staking their claims before rival groups arrived.

preempt + [land / property] + by [method]

Sirin's grandfather preempted the valley land in 1923, securing the property for future generations.

同義詞
  • claim

    broader; does not require prior right or legal framework

  • appropriate

    more formal; can imply taking without permission

文法句型

preempt + land / property

用法筆記

Primarily a historical or legal term in American English. In modern use, the related noun 'preemption' and the adjective 'preemptive' are more common than the verb in this sense.

4. in the card game bridge, to make a deliberately high opening bid that aims to di

4.動詞不及物C1
釋義

in the card game bridge, to make a deliberately high opening bid that aims to disrupt the opponents' communication and force them to bid at a disadvantageous level.

例句

Sade preempted with a three-club bid, immediately putting pressure on the opposing pair.

preempt with + [bid]

Experienced bridge players sometimes preempt with weak hands to confuse their opponents.

preempt with + [type of hand]

文法句型

preempt at [suit / level]

preempt with [bid]

用法筆記

Domain-specific to contract bridge. The intransitive use is standard — you do not 'preempt something' but rather 'preempt at a level' or 'preempt with a suit.' A related noun form is 'preempt' (the bid itself).