precede

verb

pre·​cede pri-ˈsēd How to pronounce precede (audio)
preceded; preceding
Synonyms of precede

transitive verb

1
: to surpass in rank, dignity, or importance
2
: to be, go, or come ahead or in front of
3
: to be earlier than
4
: to cause to be preceded : preface

intransitive verb

: to go or come before

Synonyms of precede

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Examples of precede in a Sentence

Minutes before 10:30 p.m. in China, the stadium pulsed with the emotions that always precede a 100-meter final. —Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated, 25 Aug. 2008
But research has now shown that so-called responses to rhythm actually precede the external beat. We anticipate the beat … —Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia, 2007
The print media ape the manners of television, and on television form precedes content, emotion replaces thought, legend substitutes for history, fiction dictates to fact. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, September 1998
Riots preceded the civil war. She preceded him into the room. The country became more conservative in the years that preceded his election. The new mayor is very different from the person who preceded her in office. The meeting was preceded by a brief welcoming speech. The chairman preceded the meeting with a brief welcoming speech.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Studies often precede legislative reform by creating an official record of problems that lawmakers can no longer dismiss as anecdotal. — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The Giants’ 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday, powered by two homers from Jung Hoo Lee and a strong start from Logan Webb, was secondary to the madness that preceded it. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026 There had certainly been plenty of it during the preceding decade spent in non-League. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 In Chinese statecraft, doctrine does not always precede action. — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precede

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preceden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French preceder, borrowed from Latin praecēdere "to go in front (of), occur at an earlier time (than), come before, be superior (to), excel, surpass," from prae- pre- + cēdere "to go, move away, withdraw, yield" — more at cede

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of precede was in the 15th century

Rhymes for precede

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Browse Nearby Words

precedable
precede
precedence
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Cite this Entry

“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

precede

verb
pre·​cede pri-ˈsēd How to pronounce precede (audio)
preceded; preceding
: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)

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