preceded; preceding
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
: to go or come before
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.
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
But McLaughlin’s neutral language and lack of details obscured much about the showdown on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, as well as the years of conflict and resistance that preceded that fateful, frigid morning.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Dec. 2024
Kenney’s Happy’s Place guest stint precedes The Conners’ six-episode farewell, which is expected to kick off in March.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 14 Dec. 2024
The trade for Tucker probably precedes another move to make room among the outfield corps (Cody Bellinger has been expected to be traded since the offseason started, and he is rumored to be a Yankees target), which would all but cement him as the Cubs’ right fielder next season.
—Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Though narrow in scope, the report aims to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether anyone in the crowd was for some reason acting at the behest of the FBI.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for precede 
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.
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Dec. 2024
Kenney’s Happy’s Place guest stint precedes The Conners’ six-episode farewell, which is expected to kick off in March.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 14 Dec. 2024
The trade for Tucker probably precedes another move to make room among the outfield corps (Cody Bellinger has been expected to be traded since the offseason started, and he is rumored to be a Yankees target), which would all but cement him as the Cubs’ right fielder next season.
—Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Though narrow in scope, the report aims to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether anyone in the crowd was for some reason acting at the behest of the FBI.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for precede
Dictionary Entries Near precede
Cite this Entry
“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precede
verb
pre·cede
pri-ˈsēd 
preceded; preceding
: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share