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
Knox, a dancer with 25-plus years with MCB, describes those shifts as an internal continuity rather than a disruption—each artistic director adding another layer rather than replacing what preceded it.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
But after the catastrophe that precedes it, the moment feels like passing around a collection plate at a funeral.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
Fowlie has reason to believe Downer’s phone and social media were compromised in the weeks preceding her disappearance.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
By mid-October, Oregon State parted ways with deputy athletic director Brent Blaylock, who had served as OSU’s point person on the deal and spent the preceding weeks publicly defending it at the school’s behest.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
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Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
But after the catastrophe that precedes it, the moment feels like passing around a collection plate at a funeral.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
Fowlie has reason to believe Downer’s phone and social media were compromised in the weeks preceding her disappearance.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
By mid-October, Oregon State parted ways with deputy athletic director Brent Blaylock, who had served as OSU’s point person on the deal and spent the preceding weeks publicly defending it at the school’s behest.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precede
Cite this Entry
“Precede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precede. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precede
verb
pre·cede
pri-ˈsēd 
preceded; preceding
: to be, go, or come before (as in rank, position, or time)
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