To pre-empt something is to anticipate or have the foresight or knowledge that something will happen in advance of it happening. Similar in meaning to 'speculate', to 'anticipate' and 'to foresee'. This expression can be used in both professional and social contacts but is used more in formal situations.

1. We need to pre-empt any potential problems, so we can have strategies in place to resolve them quickly.
2. If you want to get ahead of the game and corner the market, you have to pre-empt the strategies of your competitors.

1. I pre-empt a lot of traffic at 5 pm so I suggest we leave early to get to the airport.
2. Nobody could have pre-empted the drop in interest rates in the last five years.