prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before

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

Synonyms of prior to

• before
• previous to
• to

Examples of prior to in a Sentence

make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication

Recent Examples on the Web

Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Feb. 2026

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Martin was not known to law enforcement prior to Sunday’s incident. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026

In his conversation with The Independent, Imperioli also said that prior to Gandolfini's death in 2013, the cast considered reuniting for another Sopranos project. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026

There was no conversation about anything like this prior to that conversation. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prior to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before