Can someone explain to me what pre-emptive means?

So I have seen this word for the last decade you know, it's in most games like FF7 when you strike before an enemy strikes.But when I tried to explain what pre-emptive means by itself I could not really do it, I tried googling it, but the definitions aren't in layman's terms. So could someone give me a short and sweet explanation of what it means and use it in a sentence?Thanks. I feel pretty stupid for not knowing.

Replying to #1

You already know the answer.

2. taken as a measure against something possible, anticipated, or feared; preventive; deterrenthttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/preemptive

Thanks dudes :)

I like to think of it as a kick to the balls before the other person even thinks of doing it to you.In video games, it's just a fancy term meaning you get to go first and there's nothing your opponents can do about it.

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Replying to #6

*Kicks you in the balls*
There you go, real-time example.