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
As the controversy surrounding Allen, Mia, Dylan and Previn entered the spotlight again in the wake of the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements, Keaton — who was romantically involved with Allen prior to his relationship with Mia — stood firmly behind him.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Kazakhstan's players stand during their national anthem prior to the start of the FIFA World cup 2026 1st round day 6, Group J qualification football match between Belgium and Kazakhstan, at the Lotto Park stadium in Anderlecht, Brussels Capital Region, on September 7, 2025.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Toews was a Chicago Blackhawks icon for 1,067 games prior to the health problems that took him away from hockey.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The statement did not address the sanctions implemented by the university or what members were doing prior to the medical emergency.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
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Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Kazakhstan's players stand during their national anthem prior to the start of the FIFA World cup 2026 1st round day 6, Group J qualification football match between Belgium and Kazakhstan, at the Lotto Park stadium in Anderlecht, Brussels Capital Region, on September 7, 2025.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Toews was a Chicago Blackhawks icon for 1,067 games prior to the health problems that took him away from hockey.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The statement did not address the sanctions implemented by the university or what members were doing prior to the medical emergency.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 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 19 Oct. 2025.
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