Forestall

Quick meaning: Forestall is a verb meaning (transitive) To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.

Meaning

(transitive) To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
2. To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
3. To deprive (with of).
4. (UK, law) To obstruct or stop up, as a road; to stop the passage of a highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.
5. Something situated or placed in front.
6. (archaic) To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
7. (obsolete or historical) An ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.

Example Sentences

In French, an aspired h forestalls elision.

Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action.

All the better; may / This night forestall him of the coming day!

What need a man forestall his date of grief, / And run to meet what he would most avoid?

Word Forms

• forestalls
• forestalling
• forestalled
• foresteal
• forsteal
• forestal

Synonyms for forestall

Depending on context, synonyms include preclude, anticipate, prevent, foresee, forbid, foreclose.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include prevent, preclude, forbid, counter, foreclose, anticipate.

Related Dictionary Tools