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.
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Examples of prior to in a Sentence
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
One bright spot for the Conservatives was the result in Tees Valley, which prior to Brexit had been a traditional Labour stronghold.
—Pan Pylas, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024
The remainder of the park will still be accessible prior to the track's opening.
—Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 3 May 2024
Here's some surprising facts about the pollinator-friendly movement How to participate in No Mow May in Milwaukee
All participants in Milwaukee must register for No Mow May prior to a complaint being submitted to the property.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Malone had already teased a 17-second clip of the track prior to the set, and footage of their music video shoot in Joshua Tree leaked via fan accounts.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 2 May 2024
Someone entered an open business and grabbed men’s athletic wear worth about $300 prior to fleeing via an emergency exit.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024
Investigators later tracked down Calvert through a vehicle the subject was seen in prior to and after the incident, according to the filings.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
To acquaint guests with the new resource, visitors can have a virtual video chat with the Accessibility Services team anytime from 30 to 2 days prior to their visit to determine a guest’s eligibility for DAS based on their individual needs.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prior to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prior to
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“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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