preceding

UK: /prɪˈsiːdɪŋ/ US: /prɪˈsidɪŋ/ ,(pri sē′ding)

From the verb precede: (⇒ conjugate)

preceding is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•ced•ing /prɪˈsidɪŋ/   adj. [before a noun]

1. that precedes;
   coming before;
   previous:
   In the preceding class we discussed verb tense.

See -cede-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•ced•ing  (pri sē′ding), adj. 

1. that precedes;
   previous:
   Refer back to the footnote on the preceding page.

• precede + -ing² 1485–95

Synonyms

foregoing, prior, former, earlier.

Antonyms

succeeding, following.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

preceding / prɪˈsiːdɪŋ/ adjective

1. (prenominal) going or coming before; former

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•cede /prɪˈsid/   v. [~ + object] , -ced•ed, -ced•ing. 

1. to go before, as in place, position, or rank:
   He preceded me into the room.

See -cede-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•cede  (pri sēd′), v., -ced•ed, -ced•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to go before, as in place, order, rank, importance, or time.
2. to introduce by something preliminary;
   preface:
   to precede one's statement with a qualification.

v.i. 

3. to go or come before.

n. 

4. Journalism copy printed at the beginning of a news story presenting late bulletins, editorial notes, or prefatory remarks.

• Latin praecēdere. See pre-, cede
• Middle English preceden 1325–75

pre•ced′a•ble, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

precede / prɪˈsiːd/ verb

1. to go or be before (someone or something) in time, place, rank, etc
2. (transitive) to preface or introduce

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin praecēdere to go before, from prae before + cēdere to move