forestalling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forestalling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of preventing something from happening or delaying an event or action. Example: "The team implemented new strategies for forestalling potential issues before they arose."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But if the Chinese are now ready to work through the Security Council, that is chiefly in the hope of forestalling unilateral American action.

The Economist

(The ongoing mayhem has already boosted Mr Brown's ratings though in the end it may help to wreck Labour, by forestalling a move to depose the prime minister and ensuring that he stays in office to lead his party to defeat).

The Economist

His invitation to that, with a request for the £25 fee (in today's money £68 or $100), came in 1985, forestalling his move to a well-paid post in California.His fans adored his polyglot erudition, charm and brains.

The Economist

With so deep a reluctance to embrace compromise or reason, what possible hope for the future?Optimistic as it may seem in the circumstances, the events surrounding the bombing of the shrine may hasten the much-needed first big step towards forestalling all-out civil war: the formation of a unity government embracing all the main ethnic and religious factions.

The Economist

Yet in the presidential vote Mr Kibaki emerged victorious at the last moment and had himself sworn in only a few minutes later, forestalling pleas from all sides even from the head of the election commission he himself had appointed for a pause to investigate mounting claims of malpractice.

The Economist

How can Mr Edwards pull out of Iraq while also forestalling the re-emergence of al-Qaeda?

The Economist

And so when the report summarises its findings by saying:Macroeconomic policies are a crucial element of forestalling excessive contractions in economic activity during episodes of household deleveraging.

The Economist

In the hope of forestalling its collapse, Australia has long thrown money at it: now it is throwing people.In an exercise modelled on the Solomons intervention, but without the military component, Australia in December 2003 launched its "enhanced co-operation programme" for Papua New Guinea, sending Australian police officers and civil servants to work there.

The Economist

A sudden about-turn aimed at forestalling diplomatic isolation, said opponents.

The Economist

And though forewarning would help, there is no way of forestalling.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

BDO is also concerned that some high earners may fall foul of the "anti-forestalling" provisions which prevent them obtaining tax relief on more than £20,000 or, in some cases, £30,000 of contributions.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forestalling" to indicate proactive measures taken to prevent something negative from occurring, often implying anticipation of a potential problem.

Common error

Avoid using "forestalling" when simply 'preventing' is sufficient. "Forestalling" implies foresight and preparation, so ensure this aspect is relevant to your context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "forestalling" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund/noun. Ludwig's examples show its application in describing actions aimed at preventing or delaying an event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forestalling" functions as a present participle, conveying proactive prevention. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. While versatile, remember that it indicates foresight and preparation, going beyond mere "preventing". It's most suitable in contexts where anticipating and mitigating potential issues are central. As the sources from Ludwig showcase, "forestalling" has a neutral to formal tone, and should be applied in relevant scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preventing

This term is a direct synonym, focusing on stopping something from happening.

preempting

Similar to preventing, but suggests acting before someone else can.

forestalling the possibility of

Adds more specificity by highlighting the intent to prevent a possibility.

averting

This implies avoiding a potentially dangerous or negative outcome.

precluding

This suggests making something impossible or excluding it.

taking precautions against

Highlights proactive steps to avoid a negative outcome.

thwarting

This emphasizes actively opposing and stopping something.

guarding against

Emphasizes protection to prevent something undesirable.

hindering

This refers to delaying or obstructing progress.

obviating

This means removing the need for something.

FAQs

How is "forestalling" typically used in a sentence?

"Forestalling" is often used to describe actions taken to prevent or delay something, as in, "The company implemented new policies "forestalling potential losses"."

What are some alternatives to "forestalling"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "preventing", "averting", or "precluding" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a subtle difference between "forestalling" and "preventing"?

"Forestalling" often implies anticipation and proactive measures to avoid something, whereas "preventing" is a more general term for stopping something from happening.

In what contexts is "forestalling" most appropriate?

"Forestalling" is suitable in situations where proactive steps are taken to avert a potential negative outcome, such as "forestalling economic crisis" or "forestalling diplomatic isolation".