ichidan verb, intransitive verb
precede; forestall; anticipate
Intransitive verb meaning to act before someone else, to get ahead of an event, or to take preemptive action. Often used with に or より to mark what is preceded.
彼はライバルに先んじて新商品を発表した。
He announced the new product ahead of his rival.
事態に先んじて対策を講じる必要がある。
We need to take measures in anticipation of the situation.