as in preceding
to go or come before in time
gunpowder predated the invention of the gun by several centuries
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Recent Examples of predating
The book features over 70 historical workwear garments—some predating the invention of modern blue jeans—and more than 350 photographs spanning cabinet cards, cartes de visite, real photo postcards, tintypes, and stereoscopic photo cards.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
Just as startling to contemporaneous readers was a description, predating Darwin by almost a decade, of the omnipresence of violence in nature.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Cramps aren’t a new issue for Peterson — even predating his KU preseason cramping issues.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
The Sonoran desert has a long tradition of moonshine agave spirit production predating Prohibition.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Section 5200 has been on the books for many decades, predating the state’s current involuntary treatment law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which the Legislature enacted in 1967.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
Pterosaurs dominated the skies more than 220 million years ago, predating the appearance of early bird relatives like Archaeopteryx.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
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
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
Just as startling to contemporaneous readers was a description, predating Darwin by almost a decade, of the omnipresence of violence in nature.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Cramps aren’t a new issue for Peterson — even predating his KU preseason cramping issues.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
The Sonoran desert has a long tradition of moonshine agave spirit production predating Prohibition.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Section 5200 has been on the books for many decades, predating the state’s current involuntary treatment law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which the Legislature enacted in 1967.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
Pterosaurs dominated the skies more than 220 million years ago, predating the appearance of early bird relatives like Archaeopteryx.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predating
preceding
Verb
-
So throw out any conclusions about UCLA’s offense preceding this modification.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Lunar New Year, known as Tet in Vietnam, and Mardi Gras, the bacchanalian celebration preceding the Catholic tradition of Lent, fell on the same day.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predating. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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