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 prior to
This can be quite uncomfortable and women may suffer for years prior to getting help.
—
Rachel Murray, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Trinity is, moreover, where Beckett first encountered Proust’s writing as an undergraduate studying modern languages, prior to arriving at the École Normale in Paris.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Many have prior ties to Hafley at any of his many stops prior to landing the head job with the Dolphins, some have been retained from the previous staff and others are simply promising coaches who are new to Hafley and Miami’s pro franchise.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2026
California Highway Patrol believes the school bus driver may have fallen asleep just prior to the crash.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Rachel Murray, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
Trinity is, moreover, where Beckett first encountered Proust’s writing as an undergraduate studying modern languages, prior to arriving at the École Normale in Paris.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Many have prior ties to Hafley at any of his many stops prior to landing the head job with the Dolphins, some have been retained from the previous staff and others are simply promising coaches who are new to Hafley and Miami’s pro franchise.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2026
California Highway Patrol believes the school bus driver may have fallen asleep just prior to the crash.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prior to
Preposition
-
More than 150 Christians were abducted from three churches in another part of Kaduna in January before being released this week while at least 160 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by Islamic extremists in Kwara state for refusing to be indoctrinated.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
China has laid out an ambitious lunar plan to land astronauts on the moon before 2030, targeting the south pole, which contains water ice and other resources critical for long-term lunar exploration and settlement.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Preposition
-
Scott Cooper had offered me a movie previous to Deliver Me from Nowhere.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 July 2025
-
Researchers tested this process, known as photothermal catalysis, in the laboratory using a simulant based on samples of lunar regolith returned to Earth by China's Chang'e 5 mission (the lunar samples are far too previous to destroy in such experiments, which is why a simulant is used instead).—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 July 2025
Preposition
-
The Seahawks used a first-round bye to rest, heal and prepare, and then routed the 49ers in a divisional-round game before beating the Rams, 31-27, to advance to the Super Bowl.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, also holds a multibillion NASA contract to develop a vehicle capable of ferrying astronauts from deep space to the lunar surface.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prior%20to. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
