as in previous
going before another in time or order
I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cause
someone or something responsible for a result
what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antecedent
Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024
Relaxed high-altitude winds, the spreading of air aloft and the presence of an antecedent tropical wave all made for the formation of a hurricane — but record-warm water temperatures, reminiscent of September, helped transform the storm into a top-tier tempest.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
Went on to tackle malaria, and that process created both huge successes in modern public health, but also seeded the American public health system county by county across this country, and presented the antecedents of the Centers for Disease Control based in Atlanta.
—Christopher Dilella, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Adjective
Responsible purchasing is antecedent to fair and equitable decarbonization in the supply chain.
—Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024
Relaxed high-altitude winds, the spreading of air aloft and the presence of an antecedent tropical wave all made for the formation of a hurricane — but record-warm water temperatures, reminiscent of September, helped transform the storm into a top-tier tempest.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Noun
And does the Green Goblin also have a Shakespearean antecedent?
—Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
Went on to tackle malaria, and that process created both huge successes in modern public health, but also seeded the American public health system county by county across this country, and presented the antecedents of the Centers for Disease Control based in Atlanta.
—Christopher Dilella, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
-
Even before the pier collapse, the structure was looking at damage from a previous storm that would take $20 million to repair.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Oyarzabal, who had registered 12 goals in his previous 11 games for Spain, had not touched the ball by the 30 minute mark.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Suresh was a devoted pet mom and donated to animal causes, according to social media.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
Investigators have not determined the man's cause of death, but say it was possibly related to a medical condition.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
In 2007, the Oatley family opened Qualia, their 30-acre flagship property and the forerunner of Australia’s luxury lodges.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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While Bass remains widely viewed as the forerunner, recent polling suggests the race might be tightening heading into the final days before the June 2 primary.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, getting enough of these critical nutrients was a daily life-and-death struggle.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
The acreage had been owned by Ruth Moore’s ancestors, the Toof family, who named it Graceland.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Saturday marks one year since a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel began — a precursor to the longer ongoing war that would kick off eight months later.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
With support from the organization that was the precursor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, my father and grandmother immigrated to the United States aboard the General Henry Taylor.—
Alex Poppe,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Leaving the current occupant of the White House unnamed, Biden reflected on his own tenure and took a few swipes at the ex-Apprentice host’s record since returning to the White House from his successor and predecessor.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
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After the World's Fair, still with an artifice of Ionic columns and Caryatids made of staff, the Palace of Fine Arts became the Field Columbian Museum — the predecessor of the Field Museum of Natural History.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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