precede

American  

[pri-seed] / prɪˈsid /

verb (used with object)

• precedes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preceded,
  past participle,  past
• preceding
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• precedes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preceded,
  past participle,  past
• preceding
  present participle

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.

precede British  

/ prɪˈsiːd /

verb

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

2. (tr) to preface or introduce

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precedable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• preceding
  present
• preceded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• precede
  simple
• precedes
  simple
• have preceded
  perfect
• has preceded
  perfect
• am preceding
  progressive
• are preceding
  progressive
• is preceding
  progressive
• have been preceding
  perfect progressive
• has been preceding
  perfect progressive

Past

• preceded
  simple
• had preceded
  perfect
• was preceding
  progressive
• were preceding
  progressive
• had been preceding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will precede
  simple
• will have preceded
  perfect
• will be preceding
  progressive
• will have been preceding
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of precede

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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

precede precedes preceded preceding

Their only titles, for example, precede the Bundesliga era.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Brain changes precede Alzheimer’s disease by years, but without a baseline, there is nothing to compare those changes against.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

The bank expects strong results for the remainder of the year, which should precede a 2027 earnings inflection that will be a standout in the automotive and luxury sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

"Preserving or stabilizing the MPS might offer a way to slow the early, hidden cellular changes that precede Alzheimer's symptoms."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

As he approached it occurred to him that it might be preferable for his letter to precede him into the house.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

All participants had a live conversation with a clinician and a professional interpreter, simulating the informational discussion of the risks and benefits which typically precedes myeloma treatment.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

It adds that the NHS disclosure of this approach precedes a major government-commissioned review of the "colossal increases" in diagnoses of ADHD, autism and mental illness.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

The interview precedes a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington, D.C., where he’s expected to meet with U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Researchers do not yet know whether deterioration of superficial white matter begins before gray matter loss, develops alongside it, or precedes measurable cognitive decline.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

It is an even number, and it is the integer that precedes one.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

“She has that way about her that really is empathetic and persuasive,” said Fabian Núñez, who preceded her as speaker.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

If those winds are preceded by sufficient rains, the risk of large fires is dampened.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

The Euros with Spain came and the Ballon d'Or followed, along with the World Cup title and MVP award that preceded his move to Barcelona this summer.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

It’s a simple idea, each clip lasting just a minute or two, preceded by information about the victim and where and how the incident took place.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Hanson also preceded Kuhn in stressing the importance of gestalt psychology and in laying emphasis on the philosophy of Wittgenstein.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

In 2020 Network Rail said Trafle Mill bridge in Gowerton, Swansea, had been hit 33 times in the preceding decade, the most of any bridge in Wales and the border areas.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The Mets finished in last place, and Peralta’s ERA exceeded 6.00 in each of the two months preceding the trade deadline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

Beginning in 2016, the region experienced substantial losses in sea ice coverage, marking a striking reversal from the preceding decades.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, which is affiliated with the Royal Navy, reported Sunday that no confirmed attacks or disruptions had occurred in Hormuz during the preceding 72 hours, although the threat remained severe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

In the preceding weeks, Brooklyn had traveled by transatlantic jet, high-speed train, and unmarked spy plane.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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Related Words

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