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

Protect your finances by pausing to run the numbers prior to any transaction today. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026

Any class member that wants to object to the settlement or request for attorneys’ fees must do so no later than 21 days prior to the settlement hearing. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026

Officers discovered that Herrera had fled to El Salvador days prior to the discovery of Morfin-Rojas’ body. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee march 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026

Although their husbands were all friends, some of the widows knew each other prior to the crash, while others had never met. —Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 29 Mar. 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