How to pronounce preempt
Say it like PREE-empt. Preempt has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PREE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preempt. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PREE
- empt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preempt pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PREESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- emptGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of preempt
American and British speakers say preempt in essentially the same way: /ˈpriˌɛmpt/ in the US and /ˈpriːˌɛmpt/ in the UK.
British respelling: PREE-empt.
What does preempt mean?
- To appropriate first.“He preempted that hill to be its king.”
- To displace or take the place of (by having higher precedence, etc).“Floppy disks were preempted by CDs.”
- To prevent or beat to the punch, to forestall an expected occurrence by acting first.
- A preemptive bid.
- A guaranteed publication deal contingent upon the work being immediately taken off the market and offered to nobody else.
Where does preempt come from?
Back-formation from preemption.
Questions about saying preempt
How do you pronounce preempt?
Say PREE-empt. The American pronunciation is /ˈpriˌɛmpt/. In British English it is /ˈpriːˌɛmpt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preempt?
Preempt has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PREE). Broken into parts: PREE · empt.
Do Americans and Brits say preempt the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpriˌɛmpt/ and the British form is /ˈpriːˌɛmpt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.