forestall
forestall
Definition
fore·stall (fôr stôl′)
transitive verb
- to prevent or hinder by doing something ahead of time
- to act in advance of; get ahead of; anticipate
- to interfere with the trading in (a market) by buying up goods in advance, getting sellers to raise prices, etc.
- Obsolete
- to intercept
- to obstruct by force
Etymology: ME forestallen < forestal, ambush < OE foresteall: see fore & stall
fore·stall′er noun
fore·stall′·ment noun
forestall
Synonyms
forestall
v.
forestall
Usage Examples
Object
- criticism: Industry's desire to forestall criticisms, arising from an inflated fear of them, only serves to aggravate public distrust.
- attack: Even a ' forestalling attack ' on the DPRK has been under discussion.
- move: I pray however that the Report will in itself forestall any such moves.
- problem: At this age, you can take preventative measures to forestall possible problems during the years around the menopause.
- need: British aircraft carriers " can also offer a coercive presence which may forestall the need for war fighting " , according to the SDR.
- possibility: To forestall such possibilities a further process, that of Business Continuity Management, is required.
Used with why or when
- what: So he forestalled what might be the next move: " Some of us pumped on our heads -- mine's damp yet.
Present participle complement
- have: Definitely better to try to forestall having to go back to court.
- question: To forestall questioning on the subject, he tells me that he gets extremely weary of being asked about life with Curtis.
Modifying Another Word
Browse dictionary entries near forestall
- forestage
- forest fire
- forest
- forespeak
- foreskin
- foresight
- foreside
- foreshow
- foreshorten
- foreshore
- forestation
- forestay
- forestaysail
- forested
- forester
- forestland
- forestry
- foretaste
- foretell
- forethought
