Usage of Prior to
Sometimes termed pompous or affected, prior to is a synonym of before that most often appears in rather formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. It may occasionally emphasize the notion of anticipation.
page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting
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Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Examples of prior to in a Sentence
make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication
Recent Examples on the Web
Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, was also known as the Duke of York prior to the shocking abdication of his elder brother, King Edward VIII, in 1936.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
The two stars were married for seven years prior to their split.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
Josh Cowen ran for Congress as a Democrat prior to ending his campaign and returning to research and teaching during the fall of 2025.
—Joshua Cowen, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025
So that's magnified, but there's so many things that happened prior to that.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
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Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
The two stars were married for seven years prior to their split.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
Josh Cowen ran for Congress as a Democrat prior to ending his campaign and returning to research and teaching during the fall of 2025.
—Joshua Cowen, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025
So that's magnified, but there's so many things that happened prior to that.
—Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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