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
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
Evacuation orders will be issued in advance of a storm, ideally forty-eight hours prior to the onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
—Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Trump’s Truth Social Parent Company Suing Many Media Companies—including Forbes
Trump and his companies have filed multiple lawsuits against media organizations prior to his winning a second term.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Just like those who’d read the Song of Ice and Fire series prior to Game of Thrones, gamers have been sitting on the death of Joel since the TV adaptation was announced back in 2020.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
Lawyers for the Harris County traffic cop said missteps by an officer prior to an escalating event do not strip them of the right to self-defense thereafter.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
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.
Mallory Nicholls, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Trump’s Truth Social Parent Company Suing Many Media Companies—including Forbes
Trump and his companies have filed multiple lawsuits against media organizations prior to his winning a second term.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Just like those who’d read the Song of Ice and Fire series prior to Game of Thrones, gamers have been sitting on the death of Joel since the TV adaptation was announced back in 2020.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
Lawyers for the Harris County traffic cop said missteps by an officer prior to an escalating event do not strip them of the right to self-defense thereafter.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share