as in previous
going before another in time or order
had not eaten since the preceding day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Set in the years preceding the handover, the film details the early power struggles and systemic corruption within the police force that set the stage for the original franchise.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
Perimenopause, the transitional stage preceding menopause, is marked by biological changes and fluctuating levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026
The News has reached out to Bath Village Police for additional information regarding the events preceding the arrest and who Comstock is accused of stalking.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
Look to the eastern sky in the hour preceding dawn on May 14 to catch a rare sight, as the moon, Saturn and Mars form a cosmic triangle in the glow of the rising sun, while the ice giant Neptune lurks unseen nearby.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 May 2026
Furthermore, events preceding or following 04/09/2026 and/or pertaining to individual persons affiliated/associated to the companies were not included in the analysis.
—Time Staff, Time, 12 May 2026
Tools, training key for Boise police What Dennison will discuss are the components that have gone into the department’s recent run, much of which went into effect during the rough years preceding the last.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026
In the preceding weeks, at least 20 of North Carolina’s 115 public school districts canceled Friday classes due to a high number of teachers requesting leave to participate in the protest.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 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 three hundred players are identified during the preceding summer and fall, when team scouts scour the country to evaluate prospective college talent.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Set in the years preceding the handover, the film details the early power struggles and systemic corruption within the police force that set the stage for the original franchise.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
Perimenopause, the transitional stage preceding menopause, is marked by biological changes and fluctuating levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026
The News has reached out to Bath Village Police for additional information regarding the events preceding the arrest and who Comstock is accused of stalking.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
Look to the eastern sky in the hour preceding dawn on May 14 to catch a rare sight, as the moon, Saturn and Mars form a cosmic triangle in the glow of the rising sun, while the ice giant Neptune lurks unseen nearby.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 May 2026
Furthermore, events preceding or following 04/09/2026 and/or pertaining to individual persons affiliated/associated to the companies were not included in the analysis.
—Time Staff, Time, 12 May 2026
Tools, training key for Boise police What Dennison will discuss are the components that have gone into the department’s recent run, much of which went into effect during the rough years preceding the last.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026
In the preceding weeks, at least 20 of North Carolina’s 115 public school districts canceled Friday classes due to a high number of teachers requesting leave to participate in the protest.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preceding
Adjective
-
As a result of the transformations which are the focus of this book, that engine has departed very far from the euphoric expectations of the previous era.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The 17-year-old suspect had a previous warrant for theft of a gun, and the 15-year-old is accused of stealing a gun from the same location on Saturday.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In parts of northern Nigeria and Congo, cellular outages linked to fuel shortages predating the war have caused disruptions to services ranging from mobile money transactions to emergency communications.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
-
Long before its life as a mountain retreat, this was Cherokee hunting grounds and later a trading post, predating both Brevard and the county itself.—
Belinda Luksic,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Even as homeowners face more extreme weather like recent wildfires, floods and tornadoes, millions of them are foregoing home insurance, often due to soaring costs.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Today’s Gen Zers might find the foregoing guardrails difficult to grasp.—
Bob Ehrlich,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preceding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preceding. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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