Forestall

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Forestall

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

verb

Pronunciation

for-STAWL  /fɔːˈstɔːl/

Definition

To prevent something from happening by taking action beforehand; to anticipate and counteract.

Plain meaning

To forestall something is to stop it from happening by acting first — to get ahead of a problem before it can develop.

Register

Formal to neutral. Standard in professional, strategic, and journalistic writing.