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 the preceding month, Gamestop also closed its NFT marketplace, just months after removing support for its NFT wallet. —Nicholas Kitonyi, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 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

Annual inflation has been just 1.8% on average, down from about 3.5% during the preceding 20 years and 4.5% in the two decades before that. —The Economist, 13 Feb. 2020

But the train whirred, caught and deposited us at the preceding station. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2020

And/or the headings are continuations of the last sentence of the preceding section: But first, before Franz got back, THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG came round. —Ben Lerner, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2019

Verb

In practice, Mitchell was not around long enough to oversee the transfer window immediately preceding this season, but regular discussions were held across 2024-25 to determine the alterations Newcastle should make for future European seasons. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Young adults between the ages of 20 and 44 (42%) and patients arriving from recreational activities (52% of the relatively few cases with a preceding activity listed) were most frequently seen in emergency rooms. —Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 30 Sep. 2025

Even if Mamdani does not enact any policy that is remotely quasi-socialist, his reputation is preceding him with the federal government, which has made ominous noises about its future relationship with the country’s largest city. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

Deals from the preceding week are typically low in stock and sometimes nonexistent. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025

During fiscal year 2024 and preceding years, almost no one was staying at the facility overnight, Long said. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025

There are no details in the report about the assault or preceding events. —Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025

In contrast with the preceding formations, which had been as diverse as the United States itself, nearly all the Green Berets were tall, square-jawed, and white, a reflection of the Special Forces’ insular, misogynistic culture and homogenous racial composition. —Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Every national championship game since 2022 has featured at least one program that lost in the first round of the preceding NCAA Tournament. —Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Sep. 2025