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
The event, which preceded the Dominican Republic’s third annual trade show in Miami, its most consequential international marketing event, was led by the minister of tourism of the Dominican Republic, David Collado.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Featuring Roger Moore as the MI6 agent from Ian Fleming’s books, Moonraker (1979) was ultimately directed by Lewis Gilbert, who also directed the preceding movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Mexico’s opening event will precede the tournament’s first game between Mexico and South Africa on June 11.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
City complaints preceded the shooting The city had received several business and public safety complaints about Big Mama’s Playhouse, the unlicensed after-hours club linked to the recent shooting.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Featuring Roger Moore as the MI6 agent from Ian Fleming’s books, Moonraker (1979) was ultimately directed by Lewis Gilbert, who also directed the preceding movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Mexico’s opening event will precede the tournament’s first game between Mexico and South Africa on June 11.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
City complaints preceded the shooting The city had received several business and public safety complaints about Big Mama’s Playhouse, the unlicensed after-hours club linked to the recent shooting.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 10 June 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 13 Jun. 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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