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

In his work preceding Good Time Charlie, Haddad has dealt in similar forms of autobiography, often as a solo performer. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

According to the Justice Department, Merlien participated in the scheme in the years preceding her naturalization. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Last month, Kobach told reporters that his office had prosecuted four noncitizen voting cases over the preceding 10 months. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

In the years preceding his 2003 indictment for making false immigration claims, Jamal became an outspoken advocate whom local media began to heavily rely on to provide Somali-specific or Muslim-centric commentary. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

Edwin Díaz was coming in from the bullpen, not to the accompaniment of a live trumpeter preceding a save opportunity, but to a recording preceding a middle inning of an uninspiring defeat. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

After seven teams spent above a second-apron level for the 2022-23 season (and averaged about three per season for the decade preceding this CBA), no team is currently above that threshold entering this season. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

While a four-season run in the streaming era feels like a showrunner winning the jackpot, it was seen as a failure in those days – especially since the preceding Trek shows since 1987 had run for seven seasons each. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026