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
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, 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
The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Alaskan, then, was even a pioneer of pop-up pickup campers in general, predating other long-running innovators like Four-Wheel Campers by over a decade.
—New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026
The shows have been a prominent feature of the park’s summer and seasonal festivities since 1968, with operations predating the California Coastal Act of 1976.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait as set out under international law predating UNCLOS – notably the International Court of Justice’s ruling in the 1949 Corfu Channel case and the 1958 Territorial Seas Convention.
—Elizabeth Mendenhall, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait as set out under international law predating UNCLOS – notably the International Court of Justice’s ruling in the 1949 Corfu Channel case and the 1958 Territorial Seas Convention.
—Elizabeth Mendenhall, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
The backstory The Ranch Malibu is widely recognized as one of the original destination wellness retreats of its kind in the US, predating many high‑profile health hospitality brands and helping define the structured immersion model.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
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
The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Alaskan, then, was even a pioneer of pop-up pickup campers in general, predating other long-running innovators like Four-Wheel Campers by over a decade.
—New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026
The shows have been a prominent feature of the park’s summer and seasonal festivities since 1968, with operations predating the California Coastal Act of 1976.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait as set out under international law predating UNCLOS – notably the International Court of Justice’s ruling in the 1949 Corfu Channel case and the 1958 Territorial Seas Convention.
—Elizabeth Mendenhall, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
For Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait as set out under international law predating UNCLOS – notably the International Court of Justice’s ruling in the 1949 Corfu Channel case and the 1958 Territorial Seas Convention.
—Elizabeth Mendenhall, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
The backstory The Ranch Malibu is widely recognized as one of the original destination wellness retreats of its kind in the US, predating many high‑profile health hospitality brands and helping define the structured immersion model.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predating
preceding
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
Cite this Entry
“Predating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predating. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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