to forestall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to forestall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to prevent something from happening or to take action in advance to avoid a situation. Example: "The government implemented new policies to forestall any potential economic crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also, it did nothing to forestall foreclosures.

The Economist

To forestall such failures banks maintain equity.

The Economist

The Republicans want to forestall any increases at all.

The Economist

If he loses, his thugs will rampage to forestall revenge.

The Economist

Policymakers are now scrambling to forestall a crunch.

The Economist

First, could it hope to forestall a crisis?

The Economist

Others plead for reform to forestall such an outcome.

The New York Times

Carlsen sought to forestall that with 6 h3.

The New York Times

It was the only way to forestall an explosion.

The New York Times

And what could the community do to forestall a reoccurrence?

The New Yorker

Apparently to forestall this, the prosecution in Gujarat appealed against the acquittals.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to forestall" when you want to emphasize proactive measures taken to prevent a negative outcome. This phrase is especially useful in formal writing and when discussing strategic planning or risk management.

Common error

While "to forestall" is a valid phrase, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to prevent" or "to avoid" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to forestall" primarily functions as an infinitive of purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to express the intention of preventing or hindering something from occurring. It often introduces a clause that explains the reason for taking a particular action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to forestall" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves as an infinitive of purpose, indicating an action taken to prevent a potential problem or negative outcome. Predominantly found in neutral to formal contexts such as News & Media and scientific publications, "to forestall" conveys a sense of proactive prevention. While effective in these settings, simpler alternatives might be preferable in informal communication to avoid sounding pretentious.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent

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

to avert

Implies turning away or warding off something undesirable.

to preclude

Suggests making something impossible beforehand.

to obviate

Focuses on removing the need for something by taking anticipatory action.

to preempt

Emphasizes taking action before someone else can.

to head off

Informal way to say to intercept and prevent something.

to nip in the bud

Idiomatic expression for stopping something at an early stage.

to ward off

Implies defending against something harmful.

to stave off

Suggests delaying or postponing something negative.

to counteract

Focuses on neutralizing a negative effect.

FAQs

How can I use "to forestall" in a sentence?

You can use "to forestall" to indicate an action taken to prevent something from happening. For instance, "The company implemented new safety measures to forestall accidents" or "The government raised interest rates to forestall inflation".

What are some alternatives to "to forestall"?

Some alternatives include "to prevent", "to avert", "to preclude", or "to avoid", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "to forestall" or "for forestalling"?

Both can be correct depending on the context. "To forestall" is an infinitive form often used to express purpose. "For forestalling" (a gerund) would be used as a noun, such as "The strategy was effective for forestalling further losses".

What's the difference between "to forestall" and "to anticipate"?

"To forestall" implies taking action to prevent something negative, whereas "to anticipate" simply means to expect something. You can anticipate a problem without necessarily forestalling it.