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
—
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
Devers, who is starting at first on Saturday, has fared well at first base despite having no experience at the position prior to this season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
Clemens hadn’t received more than 150 plate appearances in any season prior to this one.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Scott, who the Dodgers signed to a four-year, $72 million contract prior to the season, has been horrific.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Roughly $140,000 is claimed to have been spent on this car’s restoration by the consignor prior to its 2019 sale.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
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Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
Clemens hadn’t received more than 150 plate appearances in any season prior to this one.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Scott, who the Dodgers signed to a four-year, $72 million contract prior to the season, has been horrific.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Roughly $140,000 is claimed to have been spent on this car’s restoration by the consignor prior to its 2019 sale.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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