as in previous
existing at an earlier time; existing before something else
The insurance does not cover preexisting medical conditions. They made changes to the preexisting law.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in preceding
to go or come before in time
an advanced Mesoamerican civilization whose apex and collapse preexisted the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of preexisting
Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
As arrests and detentions have climbed, so too have reports of people taken to hospitals by immigration agents because of illness or injury — due to preexisting conditions or problems stemming from their arrest or detention.
—Kff Health News, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Like many other large businesses, J.M. Smucker also likely benefits from its scale and resources by using preexisting relationships with retailers to get products into stores across the country.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
Few people want to watch a topical show that’s not aligned with their preexisting political beliefs.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Adjective
Our protocols allow for involuntary seizure but the better alternative, by far, is to leave a rogue male in his preexisting habitat, avoiding the trauma of relocation and setting him up for return visits from multiple females.
—Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
As arrests and detentions have climbed, so too have reports of people taken to hospitals by immigration agents because of illness or injury — due to preexisting conditions or problems stemming from their arrest or detention.
—Kff Health News, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Like many other large businesses, J.M. Smucker also likely benefits from its scale and resources by using preexisting relationships with retailers to get products into stores across the country.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
Few people want to watch a topical show that’s not aligned with their preexisting political beliefs.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preexisting
Adjective
-
And, unlike some previous conflicts, there have been few effective measures to stabilize the global economy.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Top 10 With records through Monday and previous rankings in parentheses.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Even when Disney brought back Ortega for their Descendants franchise in 2015 — a film about the children of Disney villains — IP took precedent time and time again above the story.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2026
-
That’s because precedent changes in small but important ways all the time.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
More advanced detailing came a year after the launch of the Air Max 1000 on the Air Max 95000, as Project Nectar tech allows for the application of additional elements after the initial print run.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Kuchler said the group’s initial meetings would be educational and involve reviewing plans, going over the village’s Comprehensive Plan, and looking at results from communities with similar plans.—
Hank Beckman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Several times in the last couple of decades, Microsoft has released source code for the original MS-DOS operating system that kicked off its decades-long dominance of consumer PCs.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
At Fairmont Bagel, dig into its original poppy-seed bagel.—
Megan Wallitsch,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preexisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preexisting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
