as in previous
going before another in time or order
had not eaten since the preceding day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in predating
to go or come before in time
there are two speeches which will precede yours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preceding
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
Most of those were seized on Oct. 7, 2023, but others were taken hostage in the preceding decade, and a substantial number are no longer alive.
—Jerome Socolovsky, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
During the preceding month, the platform was profiting off political ads from at least three of the lawmakers who signed the letter: Goldman, Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
—Aaron Schaffer, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
The accolades, as well as the president's preceding remarks, came exactly two years after the riot, which saw a number of former President Donald Trump's supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort the overturn the 2020 election.
—Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 6 Jan. 2023
Lincecum had sneaked by Madison Bumgarner to advance in the preceding round, garnering 51% of the votes.
—John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 5 Apr. 2020
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
The active region that produced the eruption had already generated several powerful flares in the preceding days, prompting scientists to keep multiple solar observatories focused on the area.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026
Sri Lanka won the preceding — and soggy — three-match ODI series 1-0 after the final two matches were rained out.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
Featuring Roger Moore as the MI6 agent from Ian Fleming’s books, Moonraker (1979) was ultimately directed by Lewis Gilbert, who also directed the preceding movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Many applicants need at least 40 credits, with 20 earned during the 10 years immediately preceding their disability.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month.
—Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Luck is also involved, as the rebound preceding Brunson’s make bounced just over Vassell’s reach.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 4 June 2026
After introducing the central characters of the present narrative, O’Farrell dramatically widens her lens to conjure a brisk yet haunting saga of the peninsula and its inhabitants that spans millennia preceding Tomás’s arrival.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
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
Most of those were seized on Oct. 7, 2023, but others were taken hostage in the preceding decade, and a substantial number are no longer alive.
—Jerome Socolovsky, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
During the preceding month, the platform was profiting off political ads from at least three of the lawmakers who signed the letter: Goldman, Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
—Aaron Schaffer, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
The accolades, as well as the president's preceding remarks, came exactly two years after the riot, which saw a number of former President Donald Trump's supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort the overturn the 2020 election.
—Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 6 Jan. 2023
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
The story came as a shock to the Danes—and to Bolton, who had spent the preceding weeks trying to figure out how to quietly warn the Danes himself.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
The active region that produced the eruption had already generated several powerful flares in the preceding days, prompting scientists to keep multiple solar observatories focused on the area.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026
Sri Lanka won the preceding — and soggy — three-match ODI series 1-0 after the final two matches were rained out.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
Featuring Roger Moore as the MI6 agent from Ian Fleming’s books, Moonraker (1979) was ultimately directed by Lewis Gilbert, who also directed the preceding movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Many applicants need at least 40 credits, with 20 earned during the 10 years immediately preceding their disability.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent plus a margin and will change on the 1st of each month.
—Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Luck is also involved, as the rebound preceding Brunson’s make bounced just over Vassell’s reach.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 4 June 2026
After introducing the central characters of the present narrative, O’Farrell dramatically widens her lens to conjure a brisk yet haunting saga of the peninsula and its inhabitants that spans millennia preceding Tomás’s arrival.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preceding
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
Verb
-
The group's influence on K-pop's global expansion in the late 2000s and early 2010s is widely cited by industry observers as foundational, predating the BTS-era internationalisation of the genre by nearly a decade.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Established in 1833, Portsmouth Square is considered one of the oldest public spaces in San Francisco, predating much of the modern city.—
Maddie White,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
During Manhattanhenge, thousands of people gather in the streets, blocking traffic and foregoing other responsibilities to take some time to experience the event together.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
-
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ ambitious plan to invest billions of dollars in underserved neighborhoods received a chilly reception this week from two school board members who questioned whether foregoing decades of future property tax revenue growth is in the best interest of students.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preceding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preceding. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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