Usage of Prior to
Sometimes termed pompous or affected, prior to is a synonym of before that most often appears in rather formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. It may occasionally emphasize the notion of anticipation.
page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting
—
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Examples of prior to in a Sentence
make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication
Recent Examples on the Web
Within the roughly one-minute teaser, the network dropped a quick preview of clips from The Bear, which was renewed for a fourth season prior to the season three premiere in June 2024.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2025
The show, for the first time, was available for a livestream via Hulu, though the broadcast had some major technical issues and cut out early for many viewers, prior to the announcement of both Best Actress and Best Picture.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2025
Take time now to fasten or shelter loose objects in a safe location prior to the onset of high winds.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025
One day prior to the Oscars, RAYE won best R&B act at the 2025 BRIT Awards.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2025
The show, for the first time, was available for a livestream via Hulu, though the broadcast had some major technical issues and cut out early for many viewers, prior to the announcement of both Best Actress and Best Picture.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2025
Take time now to fasten or shelter loose objects in a safe location prior to the onset of high winds.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025
One day prior to the Oscars, RAYE won best R&B act at the 2025 BRIT Awards.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share