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Preempt vs Contend - What's the difference?

preempt | contend |

As verbs the difference between preempt and contend

is that preempt is (nonstandard) while contend is to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

preempt

English

Alternative forms

* pre-empt *

Verb

(en verb)
  • to appropriate something (before someone else does)
  • to displace something, or take precedence over something
  • (bridge) to make a preemptive bid at bridge
  • Derived terms

    * preemptive * preemptor * preemptory

    contend

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy ii. 9
  • The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
  • * Shakespeare
  • For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.
  • to struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
  • * Dryden
  • You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.
  • to strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
  • * John Locke
  • The question which our author would contend for.
  • * Dr H. More
  • Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.

    Synonyms

    * struggle, fight, combat, vie, strive, oppose, emulate, contest, litigate, dispute, debate