# predate

/ˈpɹiˈdeɪt/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/predate
Updated: 2026-10-20

## Definition

to exist or happen before something else in time.

For teachers: to precede in time; to exist or occur at an earlier date than something else.

## Examples

- These old coins predate paper money.
- The stone tools found in the cave predate farming in this region by several thousand years.
- Architectural evidence suggests the lower walls predate the cathedral itself, pointing to an earlier chapel that stood on the same site.

## Synonyms

precede, antedate

## Antonyms

postdate

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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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.