preempt[pri'empt; ,pri:-]

• vt.
  • [美国英语]
  • (为取得先买权而)预先占有(公地)：

    The local people fenced the land to preempt it against other claimants.

    当地人把地围了起来，以获得排斥他人购买该地的优先购买权。

  • 优先于；先占；抢先取得：

    We arrived early at the theatre so as to preempt the front seats.

    我们早早来到剧院，以便捷足先登占到前排座位。

  • 抢在…之前行动；预先制止：

    The workers took control of the factory in order to preempt its sale by the owners.

    工人抢先占据了工厂以阻止厂主将工厂出售。

  • 霸占；夺取

    The armymen have preempted the powers of the local government.

    军人已夺取了地方政府的权力。

  • 代替，取代；取消：

    News of the earthquake preempted regular TV shows.

    有关地震的新闻取代了正常的电视节目。

  • 在…取得突出(或支配)地位
  • 【桥牌】对…先发制人地叫牌(指开头故意叫得很高以阻止对方叫牌)
• vi.
  • 抢先占有，抢先取得
  • 【桥牌】先发制人地叫牌[亦作 pre-empt]