Precede: meaning, definitions and examples

Best used in formal or academic contexts to describe something that comes before another event or item in time, order, or place.

• A brief introduction will precede the main lecture
• Events that precede the holiday season are often very busy

Commonly used in everyday conversation to indicate something happening earlier than something else, in either time or order.

• Breakfast comes before lunch
• In the alphabet, A comes before B

Primarily used in historical or academic texts to indicate something that existed or happened before something else.

• The age of sail anteceded the steamship era
• Various ancient civilizations anteceded the Roman Empire

Often used in procedural or legal contexts to mean appearing in front of a group or authority first.

• The proposal will go before the committee next week
• He went before the judge to explain his actions

Used to describe a series of events or actions that happen before a particular event, often building up to it.

• There were many meetings and discussions leading up to the final decision
• The days leading up to the wedding were filled with excitement

This word is used to indicate that something comes before something else in time, order, or importance.

• The speech will precede the award ceremony.
• A sudden drop in temperature often precedes a storm.

This term is primarily used in hierarchical or organizational contexts, often meaning that one person holds a higher position or rank than another. It can also be applied to things considered more important or higher in order.

• In the military, a captain outranks a lieutenant.
• In the company, she outranks most of the staff.

Use this phrase when indicating that one thing is considered more important and should be prioritized over another. It is suitable for formal or professional contexts.

• Safety regulations take precedence over convenience.
• In case of emergency, medical needs take precedence over routine tasks.

This phrase is used to indicate that one thing or person is better in quality or rank than another. It highlights a comparison in terms of value or importance.

• His performance was superior to that of his colleagues.
• This method is superior to the one we used before.