# preceding

/pɹiˈsidɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹɪsˈiːdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preceding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. coming before

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

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

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

the action of going or happening before something else.

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

- The band played a short set preceding the main performance.
- 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.

## Examples

- The preceding chapter explains the history of the city.
- The data from the preceding year suggests that sales will continue to rise throughout the winter.
- While the current administration has introduced several reforms, many of the underlying economic issues were inherited from the preceding decade of stagnation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.