precede
verb (used with object)
to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
had preceded
-
past perfectof precede.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
When Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band released its eponymous first album 50 years ago this month, the LP was unlike anything that had preceded it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Only two foreign Premier League managers, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ruud Gullit, had preceded Wenger, who became a transformational figure with a revolutionary approach.
From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026
Then came “All in the Family,” a situation comedy unlike any that had preceded it on American TV.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2023
Her friend and frequent co-star George Clooney had preceded Roberts on our video call, dialing in from the Provence estate he shares with his wife, Amal.
From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2022
She recalled the winds that had preceded the storm on the Schoharie Reservoir and flew inland to the little town of Plymouth, North Carolina.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
