pre-empt Definition

pre-empt
verb pre-empted, pre-empting

1. To do something ahead of someone else and so make pointless (an action they had planned).

Thesaurus: anticipate, forestall.
2. To obtain something in advance.
intr
3. bridge.
To make a pre-emptive (sense 3) bid.

Etymology: 19c: a back-formation from pre-emption.