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Glite Dictionary
pre-emptive

pre-emptive

6.7
Taking action before a problem to stop it from happening
  • adjective
  • /priˈɛmptɪv/
translation icon : preventivo
  • The government launched a pre-emptive campaign to address potential outbreaks of the disease before they spread.

So given that, why incur the risk of being pre emptive since we've already sent that signal?

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Examples

  • Americans and American counterterrorism officials are claiming that this is a pre emptive strike to send a clear message to Iran.

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  • The debate begins on Iran and the question is, would you support a pre emptive strike on Iran?

  • Obviously we do have, you know, great risks when we engage in any kind of pre emptive or preventive attack.

  • We'll be having pre emptive intervention, inventing conflict before they start.

  • This clearly is a pre emptive move to try and halt or clear to make sure some form of racial camp does not occur in Singapore.

  • In a pre-emptive move, the company upgraded its security systems to prevent any cyberattacks.

  • They decided on a pre-emptive measure to install smoke detectors throughout the building to ensure everyone's safety.

Synonyms

preemptive
vspre-emptive
  • US
48 7.0

Acting before a problem to stop it from happening

is written with a hyphen in older or more formal texts
preventative
vspre-emptive
26 4.1

Made to stop bad things like disease or harm

is broader, covering planned actions to deter expected situations generally
precautionary
vspre-emptive
22 5.0

Done to stop possible harm before it happens

emphasizes deterring expected events rather than general safeguarding
preemptory
vspre-emptive
8.0

Acting early to stop something bad from happening

focuses on deterring expected situations generally rather than blocking others
precautional
vspre-emptive
  • Formal
8.6

Done in advance to prevent harm

is more neutral and used for general advance deterrent actions

Antonyms

reactive
24 4.3

Quickly showing a strong response when something affects it

How Preventive

preventive
57 3.8
pre-emptive
6.7
precautionary
22 5.0
anticipatory
6 5.9

Surface Forms

pre-emptive positive
preemptive positive

Morphology

pre-emptive = pre-empt (transparent) = pre-empt + ive

The adjective is a straightforward derivation from the verb 'pre-empt' with the productive suffix '-ive' meaning 'tending to or serving to pre-empt'.

Etymology

Pre-emptive breaks into pre- meaning 'before' and empt meaning 'to buy', like in the word 'purchase'. So a pre-emptive action is one you take 'before' an event to 'buy up' the chance and stop or prevent it from happening.