predate

UK: /ˌpriːˈdeɪt/ US: /ˈpriˈdeɪt/ ,(prē′dāt′)

Inflections of 'predate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

predates

v 3rd person singular

predating

v pres p

predated

v past

predated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•date /ˈpriˈdeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -dat•ed, -dat•ing. 

1. to put a date on (something) earlier than the actual date:
   to predate a check.
2. to precede (something else) in time:
   Spoken language predated written language.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pre•date  (prē′dāt′), v.t., -dat•ed, -dat•ing. 

1. to date before the actual time;
   antedate:
   He predated the check by three days.
2. to precede in date:
   a house that predates the Civil War.

• pre- + date¹ 1860–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

predate / priːˈdeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to affix a date to (a document, paper, etc) that is earlier than the actual date
2. to assign a date to (an event, period, etc) that is earlier than the actual or previously assigned date of occurrence
3. to be or occur at an earlier date than; precede in time