prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before
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

Examples of prior to in a Sentence

make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Viju Mathew Shifting gears from his degree in physical geography, Viju Mathew has spent the last decade covering most categories of the luxury market prior to becoming Robb Report's automotive editor. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2025 The three-time All-Star averaged 23 points per game on 16 field-goal attempts per game in his 19 appearances prior to totaling just 15 points on 14 field-goal attempts during the last two games. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025 But Arnold and Chen are X-factors at their best, and both seemed to have shaken early-season inconsistencies prior to the Big East Tournament, so Auriemma didn’t seem concerned by the minor slump. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025 Vance previously worked as a corporate lawyer and venture capitalists prior to taking up public office. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prior to

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prior to was in 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition
: in advance of : before

More from Merriam-Webster on prior to

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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