preempt
verb
pre·empt
prē-ˈem(p)t 
preempted; preempting; preempts
1
: to acquire (something, such as land) by preemption
2
: to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself
the movement was then preempted by a lunatic fringe
3
a
: to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over
the program did not appear, having been preempted by a baseball game—
Robert MacNeil
Robert MacNeil
b
law
: to replace or supersede (a law) or bar (an action) by the doctrine of preemption
In so doing, the Court held that Congress did not intend to preempt common law contract claims.—Charas v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 160 F.3d 1259 (1998)
Charas v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 160 F.3d 1259 (1998)4
: to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
: to make a preemptive bid in bridge
Synonyms
Examples of preempt in a Sentence
The contract preempts lawsuits by the company's clients.
The state law was preempted by a federal law.
The President's speech preempted regular programming.
Recent Examples on the Web
Palmer had worked at Clinton Correctional for 28 years (here’s an NPR story in which Palmer conducted a walking tour of the grounds in the mid-2000s), and by his attorney’s own admission, would exchange favors for information that could help preempt conflicts and violence within the cell blocks.
—Kenny Herzog, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
That competition was noted by the companies in their announcement in a bid to preempt regulatory questions.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Sep. 2024
Fossil fuel companies have offered exceptionalist arguments for why state law here should be preempted by federal law.
—David A. Dana, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2024
The result is not just more efficient service but also an entirely new approach that preempts problems before customers even have to ask for help.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preempt 
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Kenny Herzog, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
That competition was noted by the companies in their announcement in a bid to preempt regulatory questions.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Sep. 2024
Fossil fuel companies have offered exceptionalist arguments for why state law here should be preempted by federal law.
—David A. Dana, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2024
The result is not just more efficient service but also an entirely new approach that preempts problems before customers even have to ask for help.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preempt
Dictionary Entries Near preempt
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preempt. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preempt
verb
pre·empt
prē-ˈem(p)t
1
a
: to settle upon (as public land) with the right to purchase before others
b
: to take by such a right
2
: to take before someone else can : appropriate
preempt a seat at the stadium
3
: to take the place of
the president's speech preempted the regular program
Legal Definition
preempt
transitive verb
pre·empt
prē-ˈempt
1
a
: to acquire (land) by preemption
b
: to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself
a senior user of a trademark could not preempt use of the mark in remote geographical markets—Mesa Springs Enterprises v. Cutco Indus., 736 P.2d 1251 (1986)
Mesa Springs Enterprises v. Cutco Indus., 736 P.2d 1251 (1986)2
a
: to replace or supersede (a law) by preemption
such state laws are not preempted by the federal Energy Reorganization Act of 1974—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
b
: to preclude or bar (an action) by preemption
federal airline deregulation does not preempt claims under state contract law—National Law Journal
National Law JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
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