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
It is almost always preceded by signals that, in hindsight, feel painfully clear.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
This is a stock being bought without the kind of euphoria that tends to precede sharp reversals, which keeps the setup clean heading into the next leg.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Questions 27 & 28 is about what preceded and followed this episode.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
The previous production halt preceded ABC's decision to call off Paul's forthcoming season of The Bachelorette, which was set to premiere on March 22.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
This is a stock being bought without the kind of euphoria that tends to precede sharp reversals, which keeps the setup clean heading into the next leg.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Questions 27 & 28 is about what preceded and followed this episode.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
The previous production halt preceded ABC's decision to call off Paul's forthcoming season of The Bachelorette, which was set to premiere on March 22.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
Cite this Entry
“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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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