Occurring before or in front of something else, in time, place, rank or sequence.

present participle of precede

The state of preceding in importance or priority. / Precedent.

An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. / (now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

(transitive, law) To provide precedents for. / (transitive, law) To be a precedent for.

(transitive) To go before, go in front of. / (transitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce. / (transitive) To have higher rank than (someone or something else).

Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay)

simple past tense and past participle of precede

One who precedes.