forestall
for-STAWLverbMeaning to prevent something by acting first
Memory hook FORE-STALL: stop it BEFORE it starts. Just before the kids get hungry and cranky, Mom hands out sandwiches. She forestalls the meltdown.
Mom forestalled a meltdown by handing out snacks before the kids got hungry.
In context To forestall complaints about the noise, the band visited every neighbor a week before the party and invited them all to come.
Similar prevent, head off, avert, preempt
Opposite invite, allow