The word "preempted" generally means to take action to prevent something from happening by doing something first or to seize or appropriate something before others can. It can also mean to replace or take the place of something considered to be of greater priority or value. For example, a TV program can be preempted by a breaking news broadcast, meaning the original program is replaced due to the urgent priority of the news. In legal terms, it can mean to replace or supersede a law or action. In computing, it refers to temporarily interrupting a task to resume it later, usually to allow a higher- priority task to proceed.

In summary, "preempted" involves taking precedence, seizing, or replacing something before others can or as a priority move.