FORESTALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does forestall mean? 

• FORESTALL (verb)
  The verb FORESTALL has 2 senses:

1. keep from happening or arising; make impossible

2. act in advance of; deal with ahead of time

  Familiarity information: FORESTALL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORESTALL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they forestall    ... he / she / it forestalls   
Past simple: forestalled   
Past participle: forestalled   
-ing form: forestalling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent

Context example:

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

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

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

anticipate; counter; foresee; forestall

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)

 Context examples 

He had no arms with which to attack me from a distance; while I, armed, could always forestall him should he attempt to grapple me with his terrible gorilla arms.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered that he expected her to wake before long and was afraid of forestalling nature.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Her light grey eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every little want and forestalling it if possible.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a match which Sir Thomas's wishes had even forestalled.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Follow close behind me, and I will forestall old Sir William, though I can scarce promise to roll forth your style and rank as is his wont.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“No,” said he, “my father's hands need not be strengthened, and Frederick's confession of folly need not be forestalled. He must tell his own story.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

'Oh!' said I, 'I shall not forestall Jane; I left her dancing with Mr. George Otway; she will love to tell you all about it herself to-morrow: her first partner was Mr. Elton, I do not know who will ask her next, perhaps Mr. William Cox.'

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Now you are going to say something about law being the worst wilderness of the two, but I forestall you; remember, I have forestalled you.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But his pursuers forestalling him, he doubled back across the cabin, passed over the galley, and gained the deck by means of the steerage-scuttle.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

As he was speaking, he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall, and stepping out, took my luggage; he had carried it in before I could forestall him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)