PREEMPT

verb Etymology: back-formation from ~ion Date: 1850 transitive verb to acquire (as land) by ~ion, to seize upon to the exclusion of others ; take for oneself , to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority ; take precedence over , to gain a commanding or preeminent place in, to prevent from happening or taking place ; forestall , preclude , intransitive verb to make a ~ive bid in bridge, ~or noun