precede

verb

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

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

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.
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 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French preceder, from Latin praecedere, from prae- pre- + cedere to go

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near precede

Cite this Entry

“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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)

More from Merriam-Webster on precede

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!