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

Along with the album, U2 released two surprise EPs this year, Days of Ash and Easter Lily, that turn out to be conceptually linked to the new album via the liturgical calendar, with carnival preceding Lent and Easter. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026

But the tension preceding the moment — and the already-out-of-hand margin on the scoreboard — already created a wealth of damage. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026

But just like in the series’ preceding season, The Ed Gein Story, this one deviates from its titular character to pad itself out. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

The list of crime-solving couples on page and screen is long, but Tommy and Tuppence are arguably the first, preceding Nick and Nora Charles by more than a decade. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The company is still preparing the first test engine, with hardware procurement and component testing preceding assembly and eventual testing. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026

Evidence considered in these disputes may include photographs of the vehicle’s cabin and belt latches, medical records, imaging reports, and accounts of the occupant’s position and the events preceding the collision. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Their previously clinical attack, with four goals scored from four shots on target across the preceding two league games, became toothless. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The study’s findings—after following over 33,000 women for almost 11 years—indicated an 80-percent risk increase of uterine cancer among women who had used relaxers at least once in the preceding year. — James Manso, Allure, 14 Sep. 2026