predecease

verb

pre·​de·​cease ˌprē-di-ˈsēs How to pronounce predecease (audio)
predeceased; predeceasing

transitive verb

: to die before (another person)

intransitive verb

: to die first
predecease noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web That's because siblings relationships often outlast any other relationship in your life: romantic partners come into your life at a later age and parents often predecease their children. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023 Does your financial planning account for the possibility that one spouse may predecease the other? Neal Templin, WSJ, 3 June 2021 His parents, two sisters, two brothers and a great-granddaughter predeceased him. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 25 May 2020 Inspired by her mother, Gladys, who predeceased her and was the pianist for the American Ballet Theatre, Maria loved music and was a big supporter of ballet. CBS News, 29 Mar. 2020 Her husband of 55 years, Daniel Neal Heller, predeceased her. sun-sentinel.com, 19 Nov. 2019 Along with her husband and parents, Judy was predeceased by her former, Jim Corbett. courant.com, 14 Nov. 2019 He was predeceased by his sister Mina Wirtshafter, of Cleveland. Steven Litt, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2020 He is predeceased by his first wife, Mary Kay Davis. Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'predecease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of predecease was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near predecease

Cite this Entry

“Predecease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predecease. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Legal Definition

predecease

transitive verb
pre·​de·​cease ˌprē-di-ˈsēs How to pronounce predecease (audio)
predeceased; predeceasing
: to die before (another person)
when the child predeceases the parent

More from Merriam-Webster on predecease

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