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

Examples of prior to in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Jabbar had posted videos to social media prior to his attack expressing allegiance to the Islamic State. —

Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2025 The couple were spotted just prior to New Year’s Eve, leaving Nobu’s Colorado outpost sushi restaurant Matsuhisa after a cozy dinner. —

Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025 Fans place bets prior to the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, June 7, 2014. —

Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024 These goals came prior to an ankle injury which has restricted him to 19 minutes as a substitute in the last five matches. —

Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prior to