preempt
先制する
解説 Definition
相手の行動を先回りして阻止すること。予防的に手を打って主導権を握る行為を指す。
To preempt means to act before someone else so that they cannot do something first. It can also mean to prevent a possible problem by taking early action. The word is common in politics, business, strategy, and formal discussion.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
pre- は「前もって」と分かれば、まず「先に動く」方向で記憶できる。preempt は prevent より一歩攻めた語で、ただ防ぐのでなく、相手が動く前にこちらが先手を打って、機会や主導権まで取る感じ。ニュースでは preempt a strike, preempt criticism のように「攻撃や批判を受ける前につぶす」で覚えると残りやすい。interrupt のように途中で止めるのでなく、出る前に封じるのが核心。
The prefix `pre-` means "before," so the core idea is acting before someone else does. `Preempt` is stronger than just `prevent`: it means taking the initiative first and blocking the other side's move. Phrases like `preempt criticism` or `preempt a strike` make the pattern easy to remember.
例文
The company decided to preempt the competitor's launch by releasing their product a week early.
その会社は競合他社の発売に先んじるため、自社製品を1週間早くリリースすることに決めた。
The government moved to preempt the crisis by imposing emergency regulations.
政府は緊急規制を課すことで危機を先制的に防ごうとした。
She tried to preempt any criticism by addressing potential concerns in her presentation.
彼女はプレゼンテーションで潜在的な懸念に言及することで、批判を先回りして封じようとした。
preempt の類義語・関連語
preempt の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語prae-「前もって」＋emere「取る」がもとで、praeemere「先に取る」を経て英語へ。相手より先に行動して主導権を奪う感覚が「先制する」につながる。関連語はredeem, exempt。
Preempt comes from Latin prae- "before" and emere "to take or buy," through a form meaning "to take first." The original idea was taking something before someone else could. From that, English developed the sense of acting first in order to prevent another action or gain control early. Related words from the same root include redeem and exempt.
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