prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before

Usage of Prior to

Sometimes termed pompous or affected, prior to is a synonym of before that most often appears in rather formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. It may occasionally emphasize the notion of anticipation.

page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting

—Publishers Weekly

Synonyms

• afore [chiefly dialect]
• ahead of
• before
• ere
• fore [chiefly dialect]
• 'fore
• of
• previous to
• to

Examples of prior to in a Sentence

make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication

Recent Examples on the Web

Healey's office says that the administration will hold a community meeting prior to its opening in order to answer questions and connect with community members who want to provide sports, arts and music programming for the children in shelters. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 18 May 2024

As a result, Munn also underwent an egg retrieval prior to have the option to grow her and Mulaney’s family. —Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before