Preempt
/priˈɛmpt/noun
To take action ahead of others in order to prevent or gain an advantage.
Did you know?Preempt comes from Latin roots meaning “to buy before,” and in law it was tied to taking land or rights ahead of another claimant — a linguistic ancestor of strategic first-move power.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
praeemere
“to buy beforehand; take in advance”
Late Latin
Latin
praeemptus
“bought beforehand”
Middle English
English
preempten
“to acquire or take possession before others”
17th–18th Century
English
pre-empt
“to take or occupy beforehand, especially by legal right”
Modern English
English
preempt
“to act in advance to prevent something or secure an advantage”