Synonyms of preceding

preceding 1 of 2

adjective

pri-ˈsē-diŋ 

as in previous

going before another in time or order

had not eaten since the preceding day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• previous
• prior
• earliest
• early
• precedent
• foregoing
• initial
• former
• antecedent
• anterior
• original
• first
• premature
• introductory
• preliminary
• advance
• inaugural
• pioneer
• preexisting
• maiden
• erstwhile
• whilom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subsequent
• following
• later
• ensuing
• after
• succeeding
• posterior
• last
• late
• final
• advanced
• latter
• latest
• concluding
• terminal
• ultimate
• closing

preceding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of precede

as in predating

to go or come before in time

there are two speeches which will precede yours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• predating
• foregoing
• antedating
• preexisting
• anteceding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• succeeding
• postdating

Synonym Chooser

How is the word preceding distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of preceding are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

Where would antecedent be a reasonable alternative to preceding?

While in some cases nearly identical to preceding, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace preceding?

The meanings of anterior and preceding largely overlap; however, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

In what contexts can foregoing take the place of preceding?

While the synonyms foregoing and preceding are close in meaning, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of preceding?

In some situations, the words former and preceding are roughly equivalent. However, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of preceding?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of preceding

Adjective

In those days, the Emirati air force and air defense were much more modest than today, outmatched in quality and quantity by Iran’s air and naval forces built in the preceding decade by the last shah. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 22 Mar. 2026

As a result, far fewer people were arrested and deported from the border than in the preceding few years. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2026

Rather than drive viewers to keep watching, cliffhanger endings can accidentally foreground inaction in the preceding hour. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025

Lincecum had sneaked by Madison Bumgarner to advance in the preceding round, garnering 51% of the votes. — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 5 Apr. 2020

Verb

Many of the roles have been projected for several years to be among the fastest-growing, even preceding the generative AI boom and its incumbent electricity demands, for example. — Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Look for highs near 90 and feels-like heat index figures around 103 on the weekend, mirroring the preceding week days and Monday’s holiday. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, over the preceding two weeks, at a conference in Mongolia – where about a third of the population is nomadic – pastoralists from around the world advocated for rights to public grazing lands and freer movement. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026

The disclosure reports the justices file annually cover the preceding year’s earnings, so Alito is likely to report additional book proceeds in future reports. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

In the years both preceding and following Kennedy’s visit to Canada, our nation’s presidents have reaffirmed those words about the important relationship. — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2026

In fact, the clip immediately preceding the track footage is from a strip club. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026

According to MarineTraffic data released Thursday morning, Shanghai recorded 1,506 port-call movements in a 24-hour stretch, around 70 percent fewer than the 5,039 movements recorded during the preceding day. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026

It was originally released on June 5, preceding the premiere of its parent film by two weeks (June 19). — Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026