precede

[pri-seed]

See more synonyms for precede on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), pre·ced·ed, pre·ced·ing.

to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
to introduce by something preliminary; preface: to precede one's statement with a qualification.

verb (used without object), pre·ced·ed, pre·ced·ing.

to go or come before.

noun

Journalism. copy printed at the beginning of a news story presenting late bulletins, editorial notes, or prefatory remarks.

Origin of precede

1325–75; Middle English preceden < Latin praecēdere. See pre-, cede

Related formspre·ced·a·ble, adjectiveun·pre·ced·ed, adjective

Can be confusedprecede proceed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for precede

predate, foreshadow, anticipate, presage, head, harbinger, lead, pioneer, time, introduce, herald, pace, scout, usher, rank, preface, antedate, guide, antecede, outrank

Examples from the Web for precede

Contemporary Examples of precede

He had a special knife designed to cut the dense loaf, and a ceremony to precede cutting the cake.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts
Molly Hannon
December 24, 2014
Of course, there are delicate negotiations that precede such an event.
Santorum's Anemic E-Mail Endorsement
Howard Kurtz
May 8, 2012
We see it as an appetizer that could precede a glorious banquet.
If Wall Street Repents, Can Main Street Forgive?
Jacki Zehner, Katharine Rhodes Henderson
November 21, 2009

Historical Examples of precede

She motioned to Dick to precede her, and he obeyed, like a man in a dream.
Viviette
William J. Locke
This passage, I say, is inserted to explain the words of Moses which precede it.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part II]
Benedict of Spinoza
All the petitions which precede it are included in this last one.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
I opened the gate for him, but he stood aside, refusing to precede me.
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
The sentences that precede that quoted by Sir Martin are Greek in tendency.
Albert Durer
T. Sturge Moore

British Dictionary definitions for precede

precede

verb

to go or be before (someone or something) in time, place, rank, etc
(tr) to preface or introduce

Word Origin for precede

C14: via Old French from Latin praecēdere to go before, from prae before + cēdere to move

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

Word Origin and History for precede

early 15c., "lead the way; occur before," from Middle French preceder and directly from Latin praecedere "to go before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cedere "to go" (see cede). Meaning "to walk in front of" is late 15c.; that of "to go before in rank or importance" is attested from mid-15c. Related: Preceded; preceding.