1. (

• predate ,
• precede ,
• forego ,
• forgo ,
• antecede ,
• antedate

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

2. (

• precede ,
• predate ,

) come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify" ;

3. (

• precede ,
• come_before

) be the predecessor of; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands" ;

4. (

• precede ,
• lead ,

) move ahead (of others) in time or space ;

5. (

• precede ,
• preface ,
• premise ,
• introduce ,

) 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" ;