prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before

Usage of Prior to

Although prior to is occasionally criticized as a pretentious way of saying before, it is well-established in formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. In some of these contexts, it serves to emphasize the procedural nature of something.

page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting

—Publishers Weekly

Synonyms of prior to

• before
• 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

Pork prepared day prior to inspection cooled to 54 degrees in refrigerator. — Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

Resident Advisor reports that Atkins was found unresponsive in his hotel room prior to his performance Saturday in Mexico City. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

This wasn’t lost on speakers at a ceremony the carrier had prior to takeoff. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026

The Lobos are 16-5 since Eck took over in 2025, which isn't bad considering the program hadn't been to a bowl game since 2016 prior to his arrival in Albuquerque. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prior to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before