Library / English Dictionary

FORESTALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Example:

Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project

Synonyms:

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "forestall"):

inhibit (prohibit, forbid, or prevent from doing something)

make unnecessary; save (make unnecessary an expenditure or effort)

avert; avoid; debar; deflect; fend off; forefend; forfend; head off; obviate; stave off; ward off (prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening)

block; blockade; embarrass; hinder; obstruct; stymie; stymy (hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of)

baffle; bilk; cross; foil; frustrate; queer; scotch; spoil; thwart (hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of)

block; halt; kibosh; stop (stop from happening or developing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

forestalling (the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act in advance of; deal with ahead of time

Synonyms:

anticipate; counter; foresee; forestall

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "forestall" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

forestalling (the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Till this year, every long vacation since their marriage had been divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey; but all the holidays of this autumn had been given to sea-bathing for the children, and it was therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by their Surry connexions, or seen at all by Mr. Woodhouse, who could not be induced to get so far as London, even for poor Isabella's sake; and who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in forestalling this too short visit.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)