forestall

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'forestall' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb used to mean to prevent or anticipate by taking action in advance. Example sentence: He forestalled any potential trouble by organizing the event carefully.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The government was rattled enough to send 50 MPs on a trip to Taiwan due to last more than a week to forestall such a move.

The Guardian

One of the prime minister's motives was to try to forestall his party from eviscerating itself as it did over the Corn Laws in the 19th century and free trade in the early part of the 20th century.

The Guardian - Opinion

One reason the government gave itself extra powers was no doubt to forestall such chaos breaking out in the south.Jehan Perera, the media director of the independent National Peace Council, argues that in some respects the present crisis has improved the chances of peace.

The Economist

Clearly, his massive vote came in large part because the left joined forces with the moderate right to forestall Mr Le Pen.

The Economist

The "desire to forestall social change," the Kentucky brief says, is "not a legitimate state interest".The petitioners' briefs do a creditable job of exposing the apparent illogic behind the states' bans on same-sex marriage.

The Economist

Around 30 people died in the fighting.To forestall trouble ahead of December 1st, the Indonesian authorities took steps that seem just as likely in the long run to enflame local resentment.

The Economist

But the report tries to forestall that criticism by insisting that any new publicly funded institution must include a mandatory sunset clause.Sizzlingly adventurous?

The Economist

The previous management's borrowing binge left Petrobras as the most indebted company in the world, and when the scandal broke an outcast from the capital markets.Openness about the past will not forestall American shareholders who are fuming about mismanagement; some have already sued.

The Economist

To forestall any anxieties about the banking system, the UAE central bank said on November 29th that it "stands behind" all banks in the federation, including subsidiaries of foreign banks, offering to lend to them freely at a penalty rate.

The Economist

The broad aim is to leave Iran free from most sanctions and far enough from the ability to make a nuclear weapon that, if it were to head in that direction, America and its allies would have time to forestall it.

The Economist

To forestall any additional surge in Treasury yields, Mr Geithner should elaborate on how the Obama administration intends to cut spending and raise tax revenue in the medium term.It will take political courage for the Chinese to eschew a weak currency and for an American treasury secretary to unveil fiscal details in Beijing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "forestall" with a clear articulation of what negative outcome you're preventing. For example, "forestall a crisis" is more impactful than simply "forestall trouble".

Common error

While "forestall" is a perfectly valid word, it can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation or informal writing. In these situations, consider using simpler alternatives like "prevent" or "avoid" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "forestall" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being prevented or anticipated. As supported by Ludwig AI, "forestall" is a standard English verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forestall" is a versatile verb primarily used to describe taking proactive measures to prevent something undesirable from occurring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently found in news, business, and scientific contexts. While effective, be mindful of its formality and consider simpler alternatives like "prevent" or "avoid" in informal settings. To effectively use "forestall", articulate the specific negative outcome you are aiming to avert. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can confidently incorporate "forestall" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent

A more general term for stopping something from happening.

avert

Implies turning away or warding off something undesirable.

preclude

Indicates making something impossible.

obviate

Suggests making something unnecessary.

ward off

Conveys the idea of deflecting or repelling something.

stave off

Implies delaying or postponing something negative.

head off

Suggests intercepting or stopping something in its path.

nip in the bud

An idiomatic expression for stopping something at an early stage.

circumvent

Implies finding a way around an obstacle or problem.

counteract

Denotes acting against something to reduce its effect.

FAQs

How do you use "forestall" in a sentence?

The verb "forestall" means to prevent or obstruct an anticipated action or event by taking advance measures. For example, "The company took steps to "forestall a hostile takeover"".

What can I say instead of "forestall"?

You can use alternatives like "prevent", "avert", or "preclude", depending on the context.

Is "forestall" the same as "foresee"?

No, "forestall" means to prevent or obstruct something, while "foresee" means to anticipate or predict something. They have opposite meanings.

Which is correct: "forestall from happening" or "forestall happening"?

"Forestall happening" is the more concise and grammatically standard construction. "Forestall from happening" is less common and can often be simplified.