Synonyms of prior to

prior to

preposition

as in before

earlier than

make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication

Synonyms & Similar Words

• before
• previous to
• to
• ahead of
• in advance of
• of
• until
• till
• ere
• fore
• afore
• up to

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• after
• following
• since
• next
• next to

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prior to

The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

The series takes place six years prior to the events of the first film and covers the high school years of a teenage Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree plays the character Reese Witherspoon originally played). — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Six years before Karl Benz’s first car and almost two decades prior to Henry Ford’s initial inventions, George Selden filed the first patent for a road engine, in 1879. — Lonnie G. Bunch Iii, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026

The banner was driven from KC to Team Algeria’s base-camp headquarters at the DoubleTree Hotel prior to the team’s departure for Vancouver, Canada. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026