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

Menopause typically occurs in one's 50s and marks 12 months since a person's last period, but is often used colloquially to include the preceding perimenopause as well. — Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026

According to Forrester’s July 2026 analysis, nearly one in four Fortune 500 companies changed its senior marketing leader in the preceding year. — Susan Thomas, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026

Since January 1, Presidential Proclamation 10998 has suspended visa issuance to Afghan nationals and removed the exemption that had covered Afghan SIVs in a preceding proclamation. — Matthew Marcellus, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026

Meanwhile, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB said Monday that four tankers had been halted in the Strait of Hormuz over the preceding 24 hours. — Alex Sundby, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

This House has been in session 20 percent less than over the preceding 30 years. — Toby Moffett, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026

In the preceding decade, the younger members of the Tamura family had died off, one by one, leaving only an elderly grandmother. — Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026

In the preceding Division 2 final, Long Beach Poly trailed 14-12 in the fifth set before reeling off the last four points to beat Redondo Union, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14. — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Advertisement Other opponents to the death penalty, including former prosecutors, former corrections officials, faith leaders, and civil rights groups, wrote similar letters urging universal clemency in the months preceding Thursday’s announcement. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Nov. 2026