preceded; preceding
1
: to surpass in rank, dignity, or importance
2
: to be, go, or come ahead or in front of
3
: to be earlier than
4
: to cause to be preceded : preface
: to go or come before
Examples of precede in a Sentence
Minutes before 10:30 p.m. in China, the stadium pulsed with the emotions that always precede a 100-meter final.
—
Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 25 Aug. 2008
But research has now shown that so-called responses to rhythm actually precede the external beat. We anticipate the beat …
—Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia, 2007
The print media ape the manners of television, and on television form precedes content, emotion replaces thought, legend substitutes for history, fiction dictates to fact.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 1998
Riots preceded the civil war.
She preceded him into the room.
The country became more conservative in the years that preceded his election.
The new mayor is very different from the person who preceded her in office.
The meeting was preceded by a brief welcoming speech.
The chairman preceded the meeting with a brief welcoming speech.
Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 25 Aug. 2008
But research has now shown that so-called responses to rhythm actually precede the external beat. We anticipate the beat …
—Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia, 2007
The print media ape the manners of television, and on television form precedes content, emotion replaces thought, legend substitutes for history, fiction dictates to fact.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 1998
Riots preceded the civil war.
She preceded him into the room.
The country became more conservative in the years that preceded his election.
The new mayor is very different from the person who preceded her in office.
The meeting was preceded by a brief welcoming speech.
The chairman preceded the meeting with a brief welcoming speech.
Recent Examples on the Web
Van Hecke has put uncomfortable moments in the two games in September behind him, which preceded the win at Chelsea and provided a sniff of opportunity for Italian Diego Coppola, the right-sided central defender signed from Hellas Verona in the summer.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Eli and Daniel were preceded by four brothers.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Even seemingly out-of-touch or abstract studies may precede discoveries with major impact.
—Ryan Summers, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The 23-player squad – announced publicly on Wednesday by FIFA – is set to play a series of matches in a friendly tournament in Dubai this month, overseen by the world soccer governing body and preceded by a training camp.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Andy Naylor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Eli and Daniel were preceded by four brothers.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Even seemingly out-of-touch or abstract studies may precede discoveries with major impact.
—Ryan Summers, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The 23-player squad – announced publicly on Wednesday by FIFA – is set to play a series of matches in a friendly tournament in Dubai this month, overseen by the world soccer governing body and preceded by a training camp.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precede
Cite this Entry
“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precede
verb
pre·cede
pri-ˈsēd 
preceded; preceding
: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)
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