pre-empt
[ˌpri:'empt] verb transitive
■to do or say something before someone so that you make their words or actions unnecessary or not effective 抢在…之前说话（或行动）；预先制止•The minister held a press conference in order to pre-empt criticism in the newspapers.部长召开了记者招待会，旨在先发制人，预先防备各报纸的指责批评。 ■US
■to replace one television programme with another, usually more important one 代替，取代（电视节目）•All the networks pre-empted their regular schedules to broadcast news of the hijacking.所有的电视网都取消了它们安排好的节目，转而播放劫机的新闻。 |