What does "preceding" mean?

1. (coming before) happening or coming just before the thing you are talking about. 2. (the act of coming before) the action of going or happening before something else.

How do you use "preceding"?

Usually placed immediately before the noun it modifies. Often used as a participle to link two events in a sentence.

preceding

adj. · v.

US //pɹiˈsidɪŋ// UK //pɹɪsˈiːdɪŋ// pre·ced·ing

1 coming before (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

happening or coming just before the thing you are talking about.

existing or occurring before something else in time, order, or position.

Example

The information in the preceding chapter explains why the character is angry.

Example

The preceding events had left the population wary of any further promises from the interim government.

Usage

Usually placed immediately before the noun it modifies.
2 the act of coming before (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the action of going or happening before something else.

the present participle of 'precede', used to describe the act of going before in rank, time, or place.

Example

The band played a short set preceding the main performance.

Example

The years preceding the revolution were marked by extreme economic instability and social unrest.

Usage

Often used as a participle to link two events in a sentence.
- leading
- anticipating
- following

Origin

From Middle English precedyng, precedenge, present participle of Middle English preceden (“to precede”), equivalent to precede + -ing.