preceding
Coming before something in time, order, or position.
Examples
In a meeting
“As mentioned in the preceding section, costs have increased by 15%.”
Over coffee
“The preceding week was so stressful that the weekend felt like a vacation.”
Why this word
previous
Preceding emphasizes coming immediately before in sequence, while previous is more general
earlier
Preceding specifically refers to sequential order, while earlier only indicates time without order
before
Preceding is more formal and precise about sequential position, while before is informal and can be spatial or temporal
Usage tip
The opposite of 'subsequent'. Often used in documents and presentations to reference earlier content.
Etymology
Latin praecedere — prae (before) + cedere (to go)
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
subsequent
Coming after something in time or order.
perpetual
Never ending or changing; occurring continuously.
defer
To postpone something to a later time, or to yield to someone else's judgment.
prerequisite
Something required before something else can happen
tenure
The period of time someone holds a position or office
retroactive
Taking effect from a date in the past rather than from the present