What does forestall mean?
Word: Forestall
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Forestall means to stop something from happening by taking action before it can.
Synonyms: pre-empt
How do you spell forestall?
Syllables: fore - stall
Tricky part: The opening part is fore, meaning before, as in forecast and foretell. Hurried writers put down for and lose the e.
Watch out for: forstall, forestal, foristall
Memory tip: Whoever forestalls a problem acts before it comes, so carry the final e of before into the start of the word.
Forestall in a sentence
Example 1: Our class teacher handed out a clear seating plan to forestall any squabbling over the front row.
Example 2: Meera checked the tyres before the trip, hoping to forestall a breakdown on the ghat road.
Example 3: He answered all the likely questions at the start, forestalling the usual rush at the end.
Fun Fact
In medieval England the word had a market meaning: a forestaller bought up goods on the road before they reached the market, hoping to sell them at a higher price.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letter to form a word:
forest_ll
a) u
b) a
c) e
d) o
Show answer
b) a. The end of the word is spelt just like a market stall.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
Neha packed extra snacks for the bus ride to flesoatrl complaints from her hungry little brothers.
a) forecast
b) forsake
c) forestall
d) foretell
Show answer
c) forestall. The jumble has no c, k or second e, which rules out the other three.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word forestall as used in the sentence:
The captain's quick word with the umpire forestalled a long argument at the end of the match.
a) provoked
b) recorded
c) prevented
d) welcomed
Show answer
c) prevented. The quick word stopped the argument before it could begin.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. precaution 2. forestall 3. intervension 4. anticipate
a) a step taken in advance to stay safe
b) to expect something and get ready for it
c) the act of stepping in to change how things turn out
d) to act early so that a thing never takes place
Show answer
c) the act of stepping in to change how things turn out. Intervention takes a t, not an s, before the ion.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A school that wants to forestall crowding at the gate at home time might ____.
a) keep the side gates locked until evening
b) ask all classes to leave at the same bell
c) let each class leave a few minutes apart
d) move the notice board nearer to the gate
Show answer
c) let each class leave a few minutes apart
2. Which habit helps most if you want to forestall trouble?
a) waiting calmly
b) working alone
c) planning ahead
d) speaking loudly
Show answer
c) planning ahead
