precede Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be earlier in time; go back further
    antecede; forego; predate; forgo; antedate.
    • Stone tools precede bronze tools
  2. verb come before
    predate.
    • Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
  3. verb be the predecessor of
    come before.
    • Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands
  4. verb move ahead (of others) in time or space
    lead.
  5. verb furnish with a preface or introduction
    introduce; premise; preface.
    • She always precedes her lectures with a joke
    • He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution

WordNet

Pre*cede" transitive verb
Etymology
L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. préceder. See Pre-, and Cede.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Preceded; present participle & verbal noun Preceding
Definitions
  1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin." Milton.
  2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.
  3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object. R.
    It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration. Kent.

Webster 1913