English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

preemptive

0 synonyms and 1 antonyms for preemptive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Done in advance to stop something bad from happening, or to gain an advantage before someone else can act.

Antonyms

postemptive

How to use preemptive

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

preemptive strike preemptive measure preemptive action

Etymology

From preempt plus the adjective-forming suffix -ive.

Full origin of preemptive →

Frequently asked questions

What does “preemptive” mean?

The word “preemptive” means done in advance to stop something bad from happening, or to gain an advantage before someone else can act. In plain terms, acting first, before a problem or threat has a chance to develop.

How do you pronounce “preemptive”?

“Preemptive” is pronounced pree-EHMP-tihv (/pɹiːˈɛmp.tɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “preemptive” in a sentence?

Here is “preemptive” used in a sentence: “The company launched a preemptive strike against its rival's new product with an early price cut.”

What is the opposite of “preemptive”?

The opposite of “preemptive” — its antonyms — is postemptive.

What part of speech is “preemptive”?

“Preemptive” is an adjective.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of preemptive
Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.