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
—
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
In his speech prior to the election, Davis said his priorities would be to ensure secure, fair elections and to give the party chairs a budget to hold events and hand out flyers.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Nov. 2025
The investigators removed the recording device and leaned into the security cameras in the hallway to determine who had been in the bathroom prior to the device being located.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
The detainees involved in the attack had been transferred from Tarrant County Jail to ICE custody just prior to the shooting.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
If the Jayhawks stumble in one or both of the opening contests, there’s a chance KU would play a consolation game sometime Wednesday or even Thursday prior to heading back to Kansas.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
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Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Nov. 2025
The investigators removed the recording device and leaned into the security cameras in the hallway to determine who had been in the bathroom prior to the device being located.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
The detainees involved in the attack had been transferred from Tarrant County Jail to ICE custody just prior to the shooting.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
If the Jayhawks stumble in one or both of the opening contests, there’s a chance KU would play a consolation game sometime Wednesday or even Thursday prior to heading back to Kansas.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 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 29 Nov. 2025.
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