pre-empt

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
pre-empt/priˈempt/

▶verb

• 1 take action in order to prevent (an attack or other anticipated event) happening; forestall.

• 2 acquire or appropriate in advance.

  ■ N. Amer. acquire by pre-emption.

• 3 Bridge make a high opening bid in order to prevent the opponents from bidding effectively.

– derivatives
pre-emptive adjective,
pre-emptor noun.