Words / C2

for-STORL/fɔːˈstɔːl/

Forestall means prevent by acting first: forestall rumours, forestall an objection. Prevent is everyday; pre-empt is a close cousin. Forest is trees — same letters at the start, different word. Stall as a verb is delay. You forestall an event, not a forest. Do not use it for stopping something after it has already happened.

Meaning

To prevent something by acting first.

Examples

• “A short briefing forestalled the usual rumours.”
• “A two-line briefing forestalled the usual leak.”
• “Buying the domain forestalled a spoof site; deleting tweets did not.”

Good to know

Prevent by acting first. Close: pre-empt. Everyday: prevent. Mix-up: forest (trees); stall (delay). Not after the fact.

Near in meaning

pre-empt

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