Synonyms of preceding

preceding 1 of 2

adjective

pri-ˈsē-diŋ 

as in previous

going before another in time or order

had not eaten since the preceding day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

preceding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of precede

as in predating

to go or come before in time

there are two speeches which will precede yours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• predating
• foregoing
• antedating
• preexisting
• anteceding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• succeeding
• postdating

Synonym Chooser

How is the word preceding distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of preceding are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

Where would antecedent be a reasonable alternative to preceding?

While in some cases nearly identical to preceding, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace preceding?

The meanings of anterior and preceding largely overlap; however, 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 preceding?

While the synonyms foregoing and preceding are close in meaning, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of preceding?

In some situations, the words former and preceding are roughly equivalent. However, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of preceding?

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

How is the word preceding distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of preceding are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

Where would antecedent be a reasonable alternative to preceding?

While in some cases nearly identical to preceding, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace preceding?

The meanings of anterior and preceding largely overlap; however, 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 preceding?

While the synonyms foregoing and preceding are close in meaning, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of preceding?

In some situations, the words former and preceding are roughly equivalent. However, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of preceding?

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of preceding

Adjective

As a result, far fewer people were arrested and deported from the border than in the preceding few years. —Albert Sun, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2026

Rather than drive viewers to keep watching, cliffhanger endings can accidentally foreground inaction in the preceding hour. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025

In the preceding month, Gamestop also closed its NFT marketplace, just months after removing support for its NFT wallet. —Nicholas Kitonyi, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Most of those were seized on Oct. 7, 2023, but others were taken hostage in the preceding decade, and a substantial number are no longer alive. —Jerome Socolovsky, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025

During the preceding month, the platform was profiting off political ads from at least three of the lawmakers who signed the letter: Goldman, Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.). —Aaron Schaffer, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023

The accolades, as well as the president's preceding remarks, came exactly two years after the riot, which saw a number of former President Donald Trump's supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort the overturn the 2020 election. —Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 6 Jan. 2023

Lincecum had sneaked by Madison Bumgarner to advance in the preceding round, garnering 51% of the votes. —John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 5 Apr. 2020

Annual inflation has been just 1.8% on average, down from about 3.5% during the preceding 20 years and 4.5% in the two decades before that. —The Economist, 13 Feb. 2020

Verb

In the three years preceding Richard’s death, police were dispatched to the Hollis apartment more than 25 times. —Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026

Among three graduating classes preceding 2025, 61% work at CDC and 8% work at other federal agencies. —Matthew Donahue, STAT, 22 Apr. 2026

In the period preceding the monochromes, Hayward had predominantly created paintings composed of two expanses of color that were divided down the middle. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

There hasn’t been as much buzz in Green Bay preceding the draft this year compared to last for two reasons. —Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026

The level of severity of these storms will be determined by how the atmosphere recovers after preceding rain moving through Saturday morning, but enough energy could build up by late Saturday afternoon for some severe storms to develop over the area. —Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026

But different stages of life offer their own distinct waves of light for artists to shift into shapes, and an appreciation for build-ing off work by preceding writers can also be found in this year’s collection. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

The institute found similar trends during the preceding two years, as well. —Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026

The preceding survey was taken in 2020, but results weren’t finalized until August 2025. —Diana Hernández, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026