precede

verb

pre·​cede pri-ˈsēd 

preceded; preceding

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to go or come before

Synonyms of precede

• predate

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wikis—or modular, collectively edited websites—preceded Wikipedia. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Game 1 questions preceded another anthem absence Before Saturday’s opener, both teams were warming up on the court before leaving just ahead of the anthem. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

But in the end, like the advancements that preceded it, AI is a tool. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

The result is a synthetic rhythm section—a voice mimicking a synthesizer that mimics a bass guitar—that precedes a very human chorus from Please, who does not sing so much as plead, several octaves higher. — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preceden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French preceder, borrowed from Latin praecēdere "to go in front (of), occur at an earlier time (than), come before, be superior (to), excel, surpass," from prae- pre- + cēdere "to go, move away, withdraw, yield" — more at cede

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Rhymes for precede

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids Definition

precede

verb

pre·​cede pri-ˈsēd 

preceded; preceding

: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)