precede
Americanverb (used with object)
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to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
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to introduce by something preliminary; preface.
to precede one's statement with a qualification.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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to go or be before (someone or something) in time, place, rank, etc
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(tr) to preface or introduce
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have precededperfect
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has precededperfect 3rd person singular
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are precedingprogressive
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is precedingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been precedingperfect progressive
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am precedingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been precedingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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precedingparticiple
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precedessingular 3rd person
Past
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had precededperfect
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had been precedingperfect progressive
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precededsimple
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was precedingprogressive singular
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precededparticiple
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were precedingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of precede
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English preceden, from Latin praecēdere; see pre-, cede
Explanation
To precede is to come before. A short speech will precede the dinner. As you walk down the garden path, the bed of roses precedes the holly bush. When marching into the room, the younger kids precede the older ones. Precede is one of many verbs ending in "-ceed" or "-cede" that trace their roots back to the Latin word cedere which means "to go." For precede, know that it's pre "first" + cedere "go." When you precede, you go first. You might precede your best friend in line, lunch might precede math class, a joke might precede a lecture, and radio preceded television. Anything that goes first or comes before precedes.
Vocabulary lists containing precede
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
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ACT Vocabulary List
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These in turn Precede the vowel they refer to.
From Poems by Seeger, Alan
Abel, I'm sick at heart; but it will pass; Precede me, brother—I will follow shortly.
From The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 5 Poetry by Coleridge, Ernest Hartley
Why does no henchman, young and fair, Precede thee, and delight to bear Entrusted to his reverent hold The burthen of thy throne of gold?
From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)
Precede them with prayer; for only in as much as you do so, have you a right to expect a blessing from them.
From A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself. Second Part by Müller, George
"Precede me, I beg," said the minister, with a courteous movement, "I am at home."
From For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II) A Romance of the Present Time by Meding, Johann Ferdinand Martin Oskar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
