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.
However, a fair amount of moviegoers left the theater before the credits ended and prior to a Q&A with director Joel Souza — who was also injured in the October 2021 gun accident that took place while filming in New Mexico — and cinematographer Bianca Cline, who completed the movie. Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024 At one point, video shows as many as seven officers are seen atop Terrell in the isolation room before he is left restrained for several minutes prior to anyone performing CPR on him. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024 What was your knowledge of TWR prior to getting involved with this project? Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 20 Nov. 2024 Trump could also count on the support of many Republicans and others who recalled that prior to COVID-19 shutdowns that began in March 2020, his term had been marked by gains in jobs and the stock market. Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prior to 

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prior to was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near prior to

Cite this Entry

“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

prior to

preposition
: in advance of : before

More from Merriam-Webster on prior to

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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