be earlier in time; go back further; Stone tools precede bronze tools

[ Syn: predate , forego , forgo , antecede , antedate ]

come before; Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify

[ Syn: predate ]

be the predecessor of; Bill preceded John in the long line of Susans husbands

[ Syn: come before ]

move ahead (of others) in time or space

[ Syn: lead ]

furnish with a preface or introduction; She always precedes her lectures with a joke; He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution

[ Syn: preface , premise , introduce ]