precede

[ pri-seed ]
See synonyms for: precedeprecededprecedespreceding on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),pre·ced·ed, pre·ced·ing.
  1. to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.

  2. to introduce by something preliminary; preface: to precede one's statement with a qualification.

verb (used without object),pre·ced·ed, pre·ced·ing.
  1. to go or come before.

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

Origin of precede

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English preceden, from Latin praecēdere; see pre-, cede

Other words from precede

  • pre·ced·a·ble, adjective

Words that may be confused with precede

Words Nearby precede

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use precede in a sentence

  • As causes precede effects, the causal order and the time order generally coincide.

    English: Composition and Literature | W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
  • There was something almost ghastly in this terrific silence which could only precede some unnatural tumult.

    Menotah | Ernest G. Henham
  • It was only on the first landing that the servant stood aside with the tray to allow me to precede her.

British Dictionary definitions for precede

precede

/ (prɪˈsiːd) /


verb
  1. to go or be before (someone or something) in time, place, rank, etc

  2. (tr) to preface or introduce

Origin of precede

1
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