prior
1preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this.
preceding in importance or privilege.
Informal. a prior conviction.
Idioms about prior
prior to, preceding; before: Prior to that time, buffalo had roamed the Great Plains in tremendous numbers.
Origin of prior
1Other words for prior
Other words from prior
- pri·or·ly, adverb
Words Nearby prior
Other definitions for prior (2 of 3)
an officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot.
a chief magistrate, as in the medieval republic of Florence.
Origin of prior
2Other words from prior
- pri·or·ship, noun
- sub·pri·or·ship, noun
Other definitions for Prior (3 of 3)
Matthew, 1664–1721, English poet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use prior in a sentence
In some ways, it is a game with all the same key components as prior Zelda games.
‘Pokémon Legends Arceus’ is the game mainline Pokémon fans have been begging for | Jhaan Elker | February 26, 2021 | Washington PostYou’ve likely tried on both types of garments in your lifetime, so use that prior knowledge to make a decision, and leave the tags on until you’re sure.
Best snow pants to keep you cozy (and active) all winter long | PopSci Commerce Team | February 25, 2021 | Popular-Science“It was a decision our team made prior to the season as a call to action and empowerment against racial inequalities and injustices,” Shay said.
In Tennessee, GOP senators seek to ban protests during anthem, raising legal concerns | Glynn A. Hill | February 25, 2021 | Washington PostShe already was the subject of a terrorism investigation connected to social media posts from years prior.
The 'Badass Chief of Staff' of Turkey's Opposition Faces Years in Jail After Challenging Erdogan's Power. She's Not Backing Down | Joseph Hincks / Istanbul | February 24, 2021 | TimeIt’s not like Naz Hillmon was struggling prior to the 2020-21 season.
The Pandemic Hasn’t Stopped These Four Rising Stars In College Basketball | Howard Megdal | February 23, 2021 | FiveThirtyEight
He was one of few outspoken activists in Syria prior to the uprising that took a place in March of 2011.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn fact, he was in contact with Lansky prior to converging from the hillside onto the streets of Havana.
Will Hyman Roth Return to Havana With Normalized Relations? | John L. Smith | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat gross abuse should be among the products of such all-prior-bets-are-off decision making is hardly surprising.
Why Did We Panic After 9/11 and Ignore All We Knew About Responding to Security Threats? | Deborah Pearlstein | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“In the months prior to that, when we started taking prisoners [in Afghanistan], we were improvising,” he said.
CIA Interrogation Chief: ‘Rectal Feeding,’ Broken Limbs Are News to Me | Kimberly Dozier | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd prior to that day, it shocked me a lot, it shocked me a lot.
90 Seconds of Fury in Ferguson Are the Key to Making Peace in America | Michael Daly | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis system had been in full operation in both districts prior to the general application of the voluntary system.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsFifteen years prior to the commencement of our story, Dorothy had been found by farmer Rushmere on the wild common fronting them.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieA former chapter speaks of promises to pay certain savings by the use of Trevithick's inventions prior to his leaving for America.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickNor can the insured protect himself by canceling the prior policy if he breaks the condition.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesHe again renewed his offer, and entreated her to allow the marriage ceremony at once to be performed by his brother the prior.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. Abbott
British Dictionary definitions for prior (1 of 3)
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
(prenominal) previous; preceding
prior to before; until
statistics a prior probability
Origin of prior
1British Dictionary definitions for prior (2 of 3)
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
the superior of a house and community in certain religious orders
the deputy head of a monastery or abbey, ranking immediately below the abbot
(formerly) a chief magistrate in medieval Florence and other Italian republics
Origin of prior
2British Dictionary definitions for Prior (3 of 3)
/ (ˈpraɪə) /
Matthew. 1664–1721, English poet and diplomat, noted for his epigrammatic occasional verse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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