English

Alternative forms

• præcede (archaic)

Verb

precede ‎(third-person singular simple present precedes, present participle preceding, simple past and past participle preceded)

1. (transitive) To go before, go in front of.
   • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Second Edition, Book IX

     But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe / Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem / Of our integritie

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book IV, chapter i

     This is the custom of sending on a basket-woman, who is to precede the pomp at a coronation, and to strew the stage with flowers, before the great personages begin their procession.

2. (intransitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.
   • 1832, James Kent, Commentaries on American Law, Volume 1, page 52

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

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

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with proceed.
• This word is commonly misspelt as preceed.

Related terms

• precedence
• precedent
• unprecedented

Antonyms

• (go before): succeed

Translations

Noun

precede ‎(plural precedes)

1. Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay)

Anagrams

• creeped

Italian

Verb

precede

1. third-person singular present indicative of precedere

Portuguese

Verb

precede

1. third-person singular present indicative of preceder
2. second-person singular imperative of preceder

Spanish

Verb

precede

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of preceder.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of preceder.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of preceder.