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
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
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
An invite-only audience of industry voters will attend, with a cocktail reception preceding the panel discussions.
—Whitney Cinkala, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
While Microsoft and OpenAI have been partners for over half a decade, long preceding the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, the companies are increasingly competing in various parts of the AI market.
—Ari Levy,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Lee and Mitchell linked once again, with a 46-yard pass preceding a 27-yard touchdown strike.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
The preceding part of this recap has been sponsored by High Times magazine.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
To run for governor in New York, candidates must be a resident for five years immediately preceding the election, and in Arkansas, a seven-year residency is required.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
At the Academy Museum cocktail party preceding it, the awards circuit still had its new-car smell; everyone seemed a little more excited to slip into their tuxedos and gravity-defying gowns (or, in the case of Kim Kardashian, a head-encompassing beige silk scarf).
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025
In the two years preceding the shooting, Lorincz had regularly complained about and called 911 on Owens' children.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Ladd was married three times, her final husband Robert Charles Hunter preceding her in death earlier this year.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
An invite-only audience of industry voters will attend, with a cocktail reception preceding the panel discussions.
—Whitney Cinkala, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
While Microsoft and OpenAI have been partners for over half a decade, long preceding the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, the companies are increasingly competing in various parts of the AI market.
—Ari Levy,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Lee and Mitchell linked once again, with a 46-yard pass preceding a 27-yard touchdown strike.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
The preceding part of this recap has been sponsored by High Times magazine.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
To run for governor in New York, candidates must be a resident for five years immediately preceding the election, and in Arkansas, a seven-year residency is required.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
At the Academy Museum cocktail party preceding it, the awards circuit still had its new-car smell; everyone seemed a little more excited to slip into their tuxedos and gravity-defying gowns (or, in the case of Kim Kardashian, a head-encompassing beige silk scarf).
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025
In the two years preceding the shooting, Lorincz had regularly complained about and called 911 on Owens' children.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preceding
Adjective
-
Additionally, infrastructure already weakened by previous flooding may be increasingly unreliable.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Spanberger and Sherrill won more votes than any previous Democratic nominee for governor of their states.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Finally, Stone Hill Winery, was established way back in 1847, predating Napa.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
-
There has been a rise in anti-Jewish hostility in Britain, predating the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that started two years ago, according to community groups and the people suffering the firsthand effects in the United Kingdom.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Following the show foregoing a Halloween costume edition in 2024 due to the holiday's proximity to the contentious presidential election, The View cohosts will again not don costumes as part of the talk show's iconic seasonal episode.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Among Gen Z, some are foregoing college, and its skyrocketing costs, in favor of blue-collar jobs.—
Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preceding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preceding. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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