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Definition of forestall

forestall

/fɔːrˈstɔːl/
fore · stall
Past Simple:forestalled
•
Past Participle:forestalled
•
Present Participle:forestalling
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forestall Lexical Profile

forestall Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To prevent, obstruct, or ward off an undesirable event or action by taking advance measures.

Example

"The central bank lowered interest rates to forestall an economic recession."

2

To buy up goods or intercept supplies before they reach the public market in order to monopolize trade and drive up prices (historical).

Example

"Medieval town statutes imposed strict fines on merchants who attempted to forestall grain before the market bell rang."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for forestall

• Nearby Words

foreskin
forest
forest cobra
forestall
forestation
forested
forester

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'foresteall', meaning an ambush or waylaying, combining 'fore-' (before) and 'steall' (a standing place or stall). In medieval English law, it came to mean intercepting goods on their way to a public market in order to buy them up cheaply and drive up prices.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Forestall. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/forestall
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