predate
To exist or occur at an earlier date than something else
Examples
In a meeting
“These legacy systems predate our current security protocols by over a decade.”
Over coffee
“This photo predates smartphones—it was taken on actual film.”
Why this word
precede
Predate means existing or occurring before something else in time, while precede means coming before in order or position
antedate
Predate is the common term for coming before in time, while antedate is more formal and can also mean backdating documents
come before
Predate is precise term for temporal precedence, while come before is casual and can refer to sequence or position
Usage tip
Useful for establishing chronological order or historical context.
Etymology
Latin prae- (before) + datum (given, date)
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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