Definitions

preceded

[pri-see-did] / prɪˈsi dɪd /

VERB

go ahead of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipate foreshadow predate presage

STRONG

antecede antedate guide harbinger head herald introduce lead outrank pace pioneer preexist preface rank scout time usher

WEAK

be ahead of come first forerun go before go in advance have a head start head up in space light the way pave the way ring in run ahead take precedence

Antonyms

STRONG

end finish follow obey

WEAK

go after

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s just that, usually, they are preceded by a larger decline.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

“Pufnstuf” preceded “Sesame Street” onto the air by two months, in September 1969.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The next day, Charlie and Emma begin discussing the circumstances that preceded her plan — depression, bullying, the black hole of the internet — before pausing for an appointment.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

The digestion since 2022 was preceded by a firm uptrend dating to 2017, which bodes well:

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

They went off in a troop, preceded by a band of musicians and shooting off fireworks, and they left behind in the town an impression that the Buendía line had enough seed for many centuries.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez