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

Synonyms

• afore [chiefly dialect]
• ahead of
• before
• ere
• fore [chiefly dialect]
• 'fore
• of
• previous to
• to

Examples of prior to in a Sentence

make sure all revisions are approved by the author prior to publication

Recent Examples on the Web

Borrego was an assistant in San Antonio and Orlando and spent two seasons at the start of his career in New Orleans, just prior to Anthony Davis’ arrival. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024

One year prior to its opening, the museum’s exhibits were carefully removed from their first home and transported about 6 miles north to their new home. —Andrew Johnston, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition

: in advance of : before