as in to precede
to go or come before in time gunpowder predated the invention of the gun by several centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of predate Gang has railway union and prison origins Tren de Aragua adopted its name between 2013 and 2015 but its operations predate that, according to a report by Transparency Venezuela. Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025 The decline in both counties has come amid a sharp expansion of charter school and private school options that predated the state’s voucher system. Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025 The aaRS enzymes appear to predate the last universal common ancestor for all life on the planet. Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025 There have been 220 previous attempts to break up California, according to the state library, including one that predated the state’s founding in 1850. Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for predate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predate
precede
Verb
  • Rock 'n' Roller Coaster changes At a separate media preview preceding Destination D23, Disney revealed more details on the reimagining of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • As Zwick points out, awards season is defined by endless speeches about the years and decades that not infrequently precede the making of a film.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!