forestall

[ fohr-stawl, fawr- ]
/ foʊrˈstɔl, fɔr- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR forestall ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to prevent, hinder, or thwart by action in advance: to forestall a riot by deploying police.
to act beforehand with or get ahead of; anticipate.
to buy up (goods) in advance in order to increase the price when resold.
to prevent sales at (a fair, market, etc.) by buying up or diverting goods.

Origin of forestall

1350–1400; Middle English forstallen, verbal derivative of forstalle, Old English foresteall intervention (to defeat justice), waylaying. See fore-, stall2

OTHER WORDS FROM forestall

fore·stall·er, noun fore·stall·ment, forestal·ment, noun un·fore·stalled, adjective

Words nearby forestall

forest reserve, forest service, forest tent caterpillar, forestaff, forestage, forestall, forestation, forestay, forestaysail, forester, forestick

Words related to forestall

hinder, prevent, thwart, avert, preclude, deter, anticipate, delay, monopolize, preoccupy

Example sentences from the Web for forestall

British Dictionary definitions for forestall

forestall
/ (fɔːˈstɔːl) /

verb (tr)

to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand
to anticipate
  1. to prevent or hinder sales at (a market, etc) by buying up merchandise in advance, etc
  2. to buy up (merchandise) for profitable resaleCompare corner (def. 21)

Derived forms of forestall

forestaller, noun forestalment or esp US forestallment, noun

Word Origin for forestall

C14 forestallen to waylay, from Old English foresteall an ambush, from fore- in front of + steall place