| verb | be earlier in time; go back further “Stone tools precede bronze tools” |
| verb | come before “Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify” |
| verb | be the predecessor of “Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands” |
| verb | move ahead (of others) in time or space |
| verb | furnish with a preface or introduction “She always precedes her lectures with a joke” |
| adjective | existing or coming before |
| adjective | of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office “a retiring member of the board” |
| precedent | adjective | preceding in time, order, or significance |
| precession | noun | the act of preceding in time or order or rank (as in a ceremony) |
| precedent | noun | an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time |
| precedency | noun | preceding in time |
| precedence | noun | preceding in time |
| antecedency | noun | preceding in time |
| antecedent | noun | a preceding occurrence or cause or event |
| antecedence | noun | preceding in time |
| predecessor | noun | one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office) |
| preface | noun | a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book |
| introductory | adjective | serving as an introduction or preface |