The word "preempt" generally means to take action or seize something before others can. It can refer to replacing or taking the place of something considered of greater value or priority, often preventing or displacing what was originally planned or expected. For instance, a TV program might be preempted by a live sports event, meaning the sports event replaces the scheduled program. In legal contexts, "preempt" can mean to supersede or override a law or action by a higher authority. In computing, preemption specifically means the temporary interruption of a task by an external scheduler with the intention of resuming it later. This allows the system to manage multiple tasks by allocating CPU time in a controlled, prioritized way. Thus, "preempt" means to take precedence over, to seize or appropriate something ahead of others, or to interrupt and replace temporarily for a higher priority or value purpose.
