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
After a period of estrangement preceded by a legal spat, Salt-N-Pepa have made peace with Spinderella, who will be part of the tour.
—Andy Greene, VIBE.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Their season is brief, their flavor is punchy, and their reputation precedes them.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
These bits preceded Chuck Norris Facts by roughly a year.
—Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Placing wagers on election outcomes precedes modern-day statistical polling — the first of which was done by Elmer Gallup in the 1936 presidential election — according to Koleman Strumpf, an economics professor at Wake Forest University who studies prediction markets.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andy Greene, VIBE.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Their season is brief, their flavor is punchy, and their reputation precedes them.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
These bits preceded Chuck Norris Facts by roughly a year.
—Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Placing wagers on election outcomes precedes modern-day statistical polling — the first of which was done by Elmer Gallup in the 1936 presidential election — according to Koleman Strumpf, an economics professor at Wake Forest University who studies prediction markets.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
Cite this Entry
“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precede
verb
pre·cede
pri-ˈsēd 
preceded; preceding
: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
