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
If that sounds like pretty reasonable, even high-minded after all that has preceded it, rest assured that Allen is not quite done with the tough talk yet.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Lee and Mitchell linked once again, with a 46-yard pass preceding a 27-yard touchdown strike.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
What To Know Connolly, 68, a leftwing independent candidate and a former mayor of the western city of Galway, had been favored to win in opinion polls that preceded Friday’s election.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
If both fail, the Healthy School Meals for All Program will be pared back into a program that only gives universal school meals to low-income schools, and free meals to low-income students at wealthier schools — a system similar to what preceded it.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Lee and Mitchell linked once again, with a 46-yard pass preceding a 27-yard touchdown strike.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
What To Know Connolly, 68, a leftwing independent candidate and a former mayor of the western city of Galway, had been favored to win in opinion polls that preceded Friday’s election.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
If both fail, the Healthy School Meals for All Program will be pared back into a program that only gives universal school meals to low-income schools, and free meals to low-income students at wealthier schools — a system similar to what preceded it.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 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 30 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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