forestall

verb

fore·​stall fȯr-ˈstȯl 

forestalled; forestalling; forestalls

transitive verb

1

: to exclude, hinder, or prevent (something) by prior occupation or measures

Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict.

2

: to get ahead of (something) : anticipate

detailed explanations intended to forestall questions

3

: to prevent the normal trading in (something) by buying or diverting goods or by persuading people to raise prices

… forestalling the wheat harvest and selling it at three times its cost …

—George Bernard Shaw

4

archaic : intercept

… he sprang like a cat to the top of the cabin and ran aft. But his pursuers forestalling him, he doubled back across the cabin …

—Jack London

5

obsolete : obstruct, beset

forestaller noun

forestallment

fȯr-ˈstȯl-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• avert
• head off
• help
• obviate
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

Choose the Right Synonym for forestall

prevent, anticipate, forestall mean to deal with beforehand.

prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable.

measures taken to prevent leaks

anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first.

anticipated the question by making a statement

forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course.

hoped to forestall the sale

Examples of forestall in a Sentence

Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict.

His comments were meant to forestall criticism of his proposal.

He forestalled critics by offering a defense of the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

Politicians across the South are sure to react with ever more draconian laws and policies aimed at forestalling unionization. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024

Regular screening of men at baby checkups could forestall the condition, Wainwright said. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2024

The possibility of each makes the other more insidious: Without the near-guarantee of a sympathetic jurist, challenging an executive action could prove counterproductive — and without the possibility of forestalling a policy nationwide, even the most favorable of rulings can go only so far. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 12 June 2024

If fight-or-flight fails, the instinct to feign death kicks in as an attempt to forestall the danger. —Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from forstall act of waylaying, from Old English foresteall, from fore- + steall position, stall

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

forestall

verb

fore·​stall fōr-ˈstȯl 

fȯr-

: to keep out, interfere with, or prevent by steps taken in advance

forestaller noun

forestallment

-ˈstȯl-mənt 

noun