preceding Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet


Pre*ced"ing adjective
Definitions
  1. Going before; -- opposed to following.
  2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.

Webster 1913