forestall

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert.
2. (transitive) To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible.
3. (archaic) To purchase the complete supply of a good, particularly foodstuffs, in order to charge a monopoly price.
4. To anticipate, to act foreseeingly.
5. To deprive (with of).
6. (UK) 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.

Noun

1. (historical, obsolete) An ambush; plot; an interception; waylaying; rescue.
2. Something situated or placed in front.

Synonyms

anticipate

prevent

obviate

precede

hinder

preclude

obstruct

impede

warn

block

foreclose

frustrate

forbid

foil

circumvent

stop

🛑

thwart

avert

go before

counter

admonish

alert

avoid

bar

caution

counteract

forecast

foresee

forewarn

hamper

inhibit

outwit

tip off

dodge

embarrass

estop

evade

choke off

check

guard against

cancel

scotch

take the initiative

forfend

call off

get ahead

get ahead of

get away

halt

forefend

Translations

empêcher

🛑

zuvorkommen

prevenire

prévenir

impedir

impedire

verhinderen

vorgreifen

prevenir

voorkomen

précéder

evitar

anticiper

vorangehen

verhindern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fɔː(ɹ)ˈstɔːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: forestallen

Inherited from Old English: foresteall

In summary

From Middle English forestallen (“to forestall, intercept, ambush, way-lay”), from forestalle (“a forestalling, interception”), from Old English foresteall (“intervention, hindrance of justice, ambush”), from fore- (“ahead of, before”) + steall (“position”), equivalent to fore- + stall.