precede

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   furnish with a preface or introduction

   I always precede my lectures with a joke.

2. 2
   verb

   be the predecessor of

   Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands

3. 3
   verb

   come before

   Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify

4. 4
   verb

   To go before, go in front of.

   Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide.

5. 5
   verb

   To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.

   It has been usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration communicated to the enemy.

6. 6
   verb

   move ahead (of others) in time or space

7. 7
   verb

   be earlier in time

8. 8
   verb

   To have higher rank than (someone or something else).

Etymology

From Middle French précéder, from Latin praecēdō, from prae- + cēdō.