verb

1. To go before, go in front of.

   “Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide.”

2. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.

3. To have higher rank than (someone or something else).

Synonyms: forego

adjective

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

   “On the preceding Monday Shobana had gone on vacation.”