preexisting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of preexistingnext
as in previous
existing at an earlier time; existing before something else The insurance does not cover preexisting medical conditions. They made changes to the preexisting law.

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preexisting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of preexist
as in preceding
to go or come before in time an advanced Mesoamerican civilization whose apex and collapse preexisted the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 preexisting
Adjective
The company also covers undetectable preexisting conditions, rust damage and improper installations. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Most producers have preexisting contracts with plastic suppliers. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 For example, if a Medicare Advantage plan withdraws from a market or leaves the Medicare program, its enrollees can qualify for a supplemental plan without being asked health questions or charged more for having preexisting conditions. — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 The employee, whose identity has not been revealed, had a preexisting medical issue and died, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preexisting
  1. previous
  2. preceding
  3. precedent
  4. initial
  5. original
Adjective
  • The move will put the mobile coastal weapon closer to Taiwan than during its previous deployment in Japan and comes as Washington and Tokyo expand their ability to operate in the islands stretching toward the Taiwan Strait.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But Todd Field inhabited that world, and allowed the audience to do so, in a way that no previous director had.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of previous
Verb
  • Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While a four-season run in the streaming era feels like a showrunner winning the jackpot, it was seen as a failure in those days – especially since the preceding Trek shows since 1987 had run for seven seasons each.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of preceding
Adjective
  • Much of its aid has come in unsigned rulings on the emergency docket—ostensibly temporary and non-precedent-setting judgments that nevertheless carry serious consequences.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation.
    — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Definition of precedent
Adjective
  • The chain’s restaurants were leased back to it under a 25-year master lease, which included 2% annual escalators, extending until the early 2040s, according to the initial deal terms.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In keeping with the brand’s spirit of generosity, the initial stock of Bali gin and Scotch whisky, beer, soft beverages such as jamu, and locally made artisanal snacks such as Krakakoa Chocolate is gratis.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of initial
Adjective
  • Thus the Marlowe played by Mitchum in the 1978 remake of The Big Sleep seems like an entirely different person from the original played by Bogart in 1946, despite their almost indistinguishable stories.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the escalating price of seafood challenged Darden’s original dream—and parent companies’ finances.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of original

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Cite this Entry

“Preexisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preexisting. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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