Select the option closest in meaning to the underlined word.
The school put up extra water coolers in April to forestall the usual crowding at the single tap near the canteen.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Prevent
As used in the sentence, forestall means to stop something from happening by acting first. Its synonym is prevent. Example: The society cleaned the drains in May to forestall flooding in the monsoon.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Prevent (answer) | to stop something from happening (same as forestall) | Washing your hands helps prevent many illnesses. |
| (2) Postpone | to move something to a later time (only a delay; the event still happens) | The school had to postpone sports day because of the rain. |
| (3) Predict | to say what will happen in the future | The weather app did not predict the hailstorm. |
| (4) Provoke | to cause a strong reaction, often anger | Teasing the street dog will only provoke it. |
| Synonyms of forestall: prevent, avert, head off, pre-empt Antonyms of forestall: allow, encourage, invite |