forestall Definition

forestall
verb

1. To prevent something by acting in advance.

Example: issue an announcement to forestall the inevitable questions
Thesaurus: hinder, thwart, prevent, preclude, intercept, ward off, head off, obstruct, frustrate, circumvent, avert, balk; Antonym: encourage, facilitate.
2. To buy something up before it reaches the market, so as to sell it again at higher prices.

Derivative: forestaller
noun

Derivative: forestalling
noun

Etymology: 15c, meaning ‘to waylay'.