Usage of Prior to
Although prior to is occasionally criticized as a pretentious way of saying before, it is well-established in formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. In some of these contexts, it serves to emphasize the procedural nature of something.
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
These are in addition to the hundreds filed and under consideration from committees prior to the shutdown, not including the major, overarching items like a second reconciliation package, a Farm Bill, the reauthorization of a major defense bill, and other GOP priorities due to the trifecta.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 15 Nov. 2025
Notably, prior to the 2024 NFL season, Belichick didn't exactly field much interest around the league, which led to him taking a one-year absence from coaching prior to taking the Tar Heels job.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025
Shares of CoreWeave — which had rallied 240% prior to earnings — tumbled 25% on the week.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 15 Nov. 2025
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Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 15 Nov. 2025
Notably, prior to the 2024 NFL season, Belichick didn't exactly field much interest around the league, which led to him taking a one-year absence from coaching prior to taking the Tar Heels job.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025
Shares of CoreWeave — which had rallied 240% prior to earnings — tumbled 25% on the week.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 15 Nov. 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 18 Nov. 2025.
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