Precede (Verb)
Meaning 1
Be the predecessor of; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- Alexander the Great preceded the Roman Empire in conquests of the ancient world.
- Her previous marriage preceded her successful term in office by nearly a decade.
- In the royal lineage, Prince Edward preceded Queen Elizabeth as the heir apparent to the throne.
- Their former business partner preceded them in coming up with the innovative product concept.
- The famous Renaissance artist preceded Salvador Dali in experimenting with surrealism techniques.
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Meaning 2
Be earlier in time; go back further; "Stone tools precede bronze tools".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- Fossil records show that early bipedalism precede the evolution of modern human features.
- Humans discovered iron after copper, so copper tools precede iron tools in the historical timeline.
- The development of classical art precede the Romantic movement by centuries.
- Ancient cave paintings precede written language as a form of human expression.
- Simple masonry techniques precede the more complex architectural designs of ancient civilizations.
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Meaning 3
Move ahead (of others) in time or space.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- The advance guard will precede the main army to scout out the enemy's defenses.
- The lights on the road will precede the official traffic when it's opened to the public.
- A loud drumbeat will precede the start of the ceremony to signal everyone to gather.
- In a motorcade, the escort vehicles will precede the main vehicle for added security.
- A warning shot will precede the actual firing of the cannon during the festivities.
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Meaning 4
Come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- In a formal speech, the introduction usually precedes the main topic of discussion.
- Most French adjectives follow the noun they modify, unlike English where they precede it.
- A warning sign must precede any hazardous area in the workplace for safety purposes.
- In general, the main course precedes the dessert in a formal dining setting.
- The president's name is usually preceded by a formal title but in informal settings, he prefers none.
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Meaning 5
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".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- She always precedes her lectures with a joke to break the ice and relax her students.
- The university tradition precedes each graduation ceremony with a special musical performance.
- He precedes his speeches with a short prayer to express gratitude and seek guidance.
- The formal apology will precede the company's official statement regarding the recent scandal.
- The company's CEO will precede the new product launch with an exclusive interview.