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Pre-empt for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: pri'ɛmpt

What does Pre-empt really mean?

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Pre-empt is a word that means to take action in advance, to anticipate and prevent something from happening. It's like when you see a potential problem coming your way, and you do something to stop it before it even occurs. You're being proactive, like a superhero with superpowers who can predict the future and saves the day before any trouble arises.

Let me give you an example. Imagine you have a big test coming up next week, and you know it will be challenging. You could wait until the night before to start studying, but that might not be the best idea. Instead, you decide to pre-empt the situation. You start studying a little bit every day, taking small steps to prepare for the test. By doing this, you're being proactive, anticipating the difficulty, and preventing a potential problem (a bad grade) from happening.

Besides preventing problems, pre-empt can also mean being the first to take action in a situation. It's like being at a party and being the first one to reach for the snacks before anyone else. You're taking action before anyone else gets the chance. Similarly, pre-empting can mean being the one who makes the first move or starts a conversation. You're initiating things, taking charge, and setting the tone for what will happen next.

So, to sum it all up, pre-empt means taking action in advance to prevent something from happening or being the first one to take action in a situation. It's all about being proactive, anticipating what might come, and doing something about it before it becomes a problem. It's a bit like being a detective who can solve a mystery before it even occurs. Pretty cool, right?


Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Wilson on 2023-10-28 15:59:23

Pre-empt In a sentece

Learn how to use Pre-empt inside a sentece

  • When you know that your brother is going to take your toy, you can pre-empt him by hiding it before he comes.
  • If you hear your favorite song playing on the radio, you can pre-empt by singing along before the singer starts.
  • You can pre-empt your friends' suggestions for a game by suggesting one yourself first.
  • Before your mom asks you to clean your room, you can pre-empt her by already tidying it up.
  • If you see dark clouds in the sky, you can pre-empt the rain by taking an umbrella with you.

Pre-empt Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

preempt preempt preemptive bid preemptive bid

Pre-empt Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

bid bid bidding bidding