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
Thunderbolts* precedes two majorly important MCU movies coming in the next year: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters July 25, then Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters May 1, 2026.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 2 May 2025
But even when Carell manages to differentiate his character’s mid-life crisis from all the other 50-something divorced dads who’ve preceded him (onscreen and in real life), the break-up never invokes significant doubts in his fellow couples.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 May 2025
The president's commencement address will precede Alabama's regular degree conferral ceremonies on May 2, 3, and 4, the university said on its website.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Wigdor represents Ventura, whose bombshell lawsuit filed in November 2023 preceded the federal raids of his home in March 2024 and criminal charges.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Tommy McArdle, People.com, 2 May 2025
But even when Carell manages to differentiate his character’s mid-life crisis from all the other 50-something divorced dads who’ve preceded him (onscreen and in real life), the break-up never invokes significant doubts in his fellow couples.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 May 2025
The president's commencement address will precede Alabama's regular degree conferral ceremonies on May 2, 3, and 4, the university said on its website.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Wigdor represents Ventura, whose bombshell lawsuit filed in November 2023 preceded the federal raids of his home in March 2024 and criminal charges.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 1 May 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 6 May. 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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