Precede Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Published on November 8, 2025
Precede refers to come before something in time, order, or position. e.g., A short speech preceded the concert.
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Precede Definitions
To go or come before in time.
The Ice Age preceded the development of modern human civilizations.
To exist, occur, or be performed before another.
A rehearsal will precede the final performance.
To be earlier than.
The Renaissance preceded the Industrial Revolution.
To introduce or herald.
Thunderstorms often precede heavy rains.
To lead up to or prepare for.
The introductory chapter precedes the main body of the book.
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To be a precursor or forebear of.
Early forms of writing preceded modern alphabets.
To set the stage for something to follow.
His innovative work preceded many modern technological advances.
To surpass in rank or importance.
In a formal procession, the mayor precedes the deputy mayor.
To have higher precedence or priority.
In some programming languages, multiplication precedes addition.
To come in advance of.
Spring flowers often precede the first full flush of summer blooms.
To come, exist, or occur before in time
A lecture preceded the movie.
To be in front of or prior to in order
A precedes B in the alphabet.
To go in advance of
A marching band preceded the float.
To preface; introduce
Preceded her lecture with a funny anecdote.
To be before in time, order, or position.
(transitive) To go before, go in front of.
Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide.
(transitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.
(transitive) To have higher rank than (someone or something else).
Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay)
To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything.
To go before in place, rank, or importance.
To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; - used with by or with before the instrumental object.
It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.
Be earlier in time; go back further;
Stone tools precede bronze tools
Come before;
Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
Be the predecessor of;
Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands
Move ahead (of others) in time or space
Furnish with a preface or introduction;
She always precedes her lectures with a joke
He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution
Precede Snonyms
Predate
To exist or occur at a date earlier than something.
Fossil records show that dinosaurs predate human beings.
Set the stage for
To create conditions that allow something to happen.
The invention of the printing press set the stage for the spread of literacy.
Forego
To go before or precede.
The foreword foregoes the first chapter in the book.
Anticipate
To act as a precursor or foretaste of.
The conference anticipated major changes in policy.
Lead up to
To make a transition to something by preparing for it.
The introductory remarks led up to the keynote speech.
Harbinger
To be a sign or warning of something to come.
Dark clouds are often the harbinger of a storm.
Introduce
To present or announce before something begins.
The host introduced the main event with a brief speech.
Pave the way for
To make it possible or easier for something to follow.
Early experiments with flight paved the way for modern aviation.
Antecede
To come or happen before in time.
The signing of the declaration anteceded the war.
Herald
To signal the approach of; to precede.
The blooming of cherry blossoms heralds the arrival of spring.
Precede Idioms & Phrases
Precede in rank
To hold a higher position or status in a hierarchical structure.
Generals precede colonels in military rank.
Precede with caution
To proceed carefully, being aware of potential problems.
Before making any major decisions, it's wise to precede with caution.
Precede by example
To lead or guide others by demonstrating exemplary behavior first.
The team captain must precede by example to inspire the players.
Precede at one's own risk
To move forward with an action understanding that there are potential dangers or problems.
You can try to fix it yourself, but you precede at your own risk.
Precede with dignity
To carry oneself with grace and respect before others.
Despite the criticisms, she chose to precede with dignity.
Precede without precedence
To embark on something that has no prior example or guideline.
The explorers decided to precede without precedence into the unknown territory.
Precede in silence
To move forward or continue without making any comment or noise.
The monks entered the room and chose to precede in silence.
Precede under the assumption
To begin or continue with a particular belief or understanding.
We will precede under the assumption that all data provided is accurate.
Precede with integrity
To act in an honest and moral manner before others.
It's important to precede with integrity in all business dealings.
Precede with enthusiasm
To begin or continue something with eagerness and energy.
The team decided to precede with enthusiasm despite the challenges.
Precede with a heavy heart
To continue with something while feeling sadness or reluctance.
After the bad news, he had to precede with a heavy heart.
Precede at a leisurely pace
To move forward slowly and without hurry.
On vacation, they chose to precede at a leisurely pace.
Precede with respect
To show consideration and reverence in one's actions or approach.
In all our interactions, we should precede with respect.
Let history precede
To allow past events or experiences to guide or influence the present.
In drafting the new law, they let history precede.
Precede in footsteps
To follow in the path or direction taken by someone else.
She decided to precede in the footsteps of her mentor.
Precede Example Sentences
The introduction will precede the first chapter.
Traditions often precede modern innovations.
Historical events can precede major societal changes.
The prefix 'pre-' in precede indicates something that comes before.
Customary practices precede written laws in some cultures.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in precede?
Precede has two syllables.
How do we divide precede into syllables?
Precede is divided into syllables as pre-cede.
What is the pronunciation of precede?
Precede is pronounced as /prɪˈsiːd/.
What is the verb form of precede?
The verb form of precede is "precede," as in "to precede something."
What is the first form of precede?
The first form of precede is "precede."
What is another term for precede?
Another term for precede is "antecede."
Why is it called precede?
It is called "precede" because it comes from the Latin word "praecedere," which means "to go before."
What is a stressed syllable in precede?
The stressed syllable in "precede" is the second syllable, "cede."
How is precede used in a sentence?
Precede is used to indicate that one thing comes before another in order, time, or importance.
What part of speech is precede?
Precede is a verb.
What is the root word of precede?
The root word of precede is "cede," coming from the Latin "cedere," meaning "to go."
What is the second form of precede?
The second form of precede is "preceded."
What is the singular form of precede?
The singular form is "precede."
Is the word precede a Gerund?
No, "preceding" would be the gerund form of the verb precede.
Which determiner is used with precede?
Determiners are not typically used with the verb precede.
What is the third form of precede?
The third form of precede is also "preceded."
Is precede an abstract noun?
No, precede is a verb, not an abstract noun.
Is precede a collective noun?
No, precede is a verb, not a collective noun.
Is the precede term a metaphor?
Precede can be used metaphorically to represent something coming before another in various contexts.
Is the word “precede” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Precede is a verb and thus cannot be a direct or indirect object.
What is the plural form of precede?
Precede does not have a plural form as it is a verb; its tense changes instead.
Is precede an adverb?
No, precede is not an adverb.
Is precede a negative or positive word?
Precede is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is the word precede imperative?
Precede can be used in an imperative form, e.g., "Please precede to the next section."
Which preposition is used with precede?
Prepositions like "by" or "in" can be used with precede, e.g., "preceded by" or "precede in order."
Which conjunction is used with precede?
Conjunctions are not specifically associated with precede; it depends on the sentence structure.
What is the opposite of precede?
The opposite of precede is "follow" or "succeed."
Is precede a noun or adjective?
Precede is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is precede a vowel or consonant?
The word "precede" starts with a consonant 'p'.
Is precede a countable noun?
Precede is not a noun; it is a verb and therefore not countable.
Which vowel is used before precede?
No specific vowel is used before "precede"; it depends on the context of the sentence.
Which article is used with precede?
Articles are not typically used directly with the verb precede.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
