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

On his own Facebook page, Castronovo posted a message to fans Saturday prior to the concert. — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

The filing proposes a bifurcated regulatory model that could allow key non-nuclear components of its power plant to be built and operated prior to receiving a full nuclear license. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

The Big 12 Conference will provide exact broadcast designation details prior to kickoff. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026

Grateful to finally be home after playing for five different NBA teams prior to joining the Heat this offseason. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 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