Antecedent: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to something that logically precedes another or a preceding event or condition.

• The antecedent events led to the revolution

Similar to forerunner, but more formal; used to indicate something that paved the way for the development of another thing, especially in scientific and academic contexts.

• The early experiments were precursors to today's advanced research

Best used to describe something or someone that comes before and signals the approach of another, often used in technology, trends, or sports.

• The telegraph was a forerunner to modern communication technologies

Commonly used when talking about family lineage or historical figures related to someone's heritage.

• Her ancestors came from Ireland

Used in formal contexts, especially in philosophical, legal, or scientific discussions, to refer to something that came before another thing.

• The antecedent event that caused the entire situation was the company's bankruptcy

Generally used to indicate something that paved the way for a later development, often in scientific, technological, or industrial contexts.

• The telegraph was a precursor to the modern telephone

Often used to describe an early version or someone who comes before another as a sign or prediction of what is to come.

• The early mechanical computer was a forerunner of modern computing technology

Commonly used in professional and historical contexts to refer to a person who held a position or a thing that existed before the current one.

• The new president’s policies are quite different from those of her predecessor