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
An invite-only audience of industry voters will attend, with a cocktail reception preceding the panel discussions.
—Whitney Cinkala, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Her husband preceded her in death.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, police in Tanzania’s biggest city fired gunshots and tear gas against protestors who criticized yesterday’s election that was preceded by the disappearance and detention of leading opposition politicians.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The tussle over rare earths precedes the current administration; China for years has built up near-total control of the minerals as part of its wider industrial policy.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precede
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Whitney Cinkala, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Her husband preceded her in death.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, police in Tanzania’s biggest city fired gunshots and tear gas against protestors who criticized yesterday’s election that was preceded by the disappearance and detention of leading opposition politicians.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The tussle over rare earths precedes the current administration; China for years has built up near-total control of the minerals as part of its wider industrial policy.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 30 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 4 Nov. 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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