Synonyms of antecedent

antecedent 1 of 2

adjective

as in previous

going before another in time or order

I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• previous
• precedent
• preceding
• earliest
• early
• prior
• former
• anterior
• initial
• foregoing
• original
• first
• premature
• preexisting
• introductory
• pioneer
• preliminary
• advance
• inaugural
• erstwhile
• maiden
• whilom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subsequent
• following
• later
• posterior
• succeeding
• ensuing
• after
• late
• advanced
• latter
• last
• final
• ultimate
• latest
• terminal
• concluding
• closing

antecedent

2 of 2

noun

ˌan-tə-ˈsē-dᵊnt 

1

as in cause

someone or something responsible for a result

what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cause
• determinant
• causation
• causality
• reason
• source
• occasion
• consideration
• factor
• origin
• impetus
• stimulus
• incentive
• mother
• root
• spring
• inspiration
• instigation
• be-all and end-all
• alpha and omega

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• effect
• result
• development
• consequence
• outcome
• sequence
• issue
• product
• corollary
• fruit
• fate
• outgrowth
• resultant
• aftermath
• upshot
• sequel
• aftereffect
• conclusion
• ramification
• end
• denouement
• repercussion
• side effect
• dénouement
• by-product
• side reaction

2

as in forerunner

something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed

the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forerunner
• ancestor
• precursor
• predecessor
• prototype
• original
• archetype
• grandaddy
• originator
• daddy
• model
• granddaddy
• foregoer
• mother
• sire
• father

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• descendant
• descendent
• derivative
• outgrowth
• by-product
• offshoot
• son
• daughter
• spin-off

Synonym Chooser

How is the word antecedent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of antecedent are anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When can anterior be used instead of antecedent?

While the synonyms anterior and antecedent are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

In what contexts can foregoing take the place of antecedent?

The words foregoing and antecedent can be used in similar contexts, but foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

Where would former be a reasonable alternative to antecedent?

The words former and antecedent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When might preceding be a better fit than antecedent?

The synonyms preceding and antecedent are sometimes interchangeable, but preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How are the words previous and prior related as synonyms of antecedent?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

Examples of antecedent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Noun

Durkin, a scholar of slavery and the African diaspora, traces them to communities in Alabama established by the formerly enslaved, such as Africatown and Gee’s Bend, and finds in their stories antecedents for the Harlem Renaissance and the civil-rights movement. —The New Yorker, 12 June 2024

Although de Benoist claimed that his movement stood outside the traditional left-right dichotomy, its rejection of egalitarianism and its far-right intellectual antecedents clearly indicate its right-wing orientation. —George Hawley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2017