pre-empt, preempt /priˈempt/ verb [transitiveT]1 FIRSTto make what someone has planned to do or say unnecessary or ineffective by saying or doing something first 搶在…之前行動[說話];對…先發制人The deal pre-empted a strike by rail workers. 這個協議避免了一場鐵路工人的罷工。
2 American EnglishAmE to replace a television show with a special programme or report 臨時取代〔電視節目〕Regular programming was preempted by a report on the war. 固定節目臨時換成了戰況報道。
—pre-emption /-ˈempʃən/ noun [uncountableU]