as in previous
going before another in time or order
I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cause
someone or something responsible for a result
what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antecedent
Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024
Relaxed high-altitude winds, the spreading of air aloft and the presence of an antecedent tropical wave all made for the formation of a hurricane — but record-warm water temperatures, reminiscent of September, helped transform the storm into a top-tier tempest.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
With Love, Meghan could use some Martha Stewart style
Part of the problem is that as a celebrity, Meghan has two clear antecedents: Princess Diana and Martha Stewart.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Adjective
Responsible purchasing is antecedent to fair and equitable decarbonization in the supply chain.
—Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024
Relaxed high-altitude winds, the spreading of air aloft and the presence of an antecedent tropical wave all made for the formation of a hurricane — but record-warm water temperatures, reminiscent of September, helped transform the storm into a top-tier tempest.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Noun
At an apparel level, the two do habitually converse—Coco Chanel launched her business making tennis dresses, and today’s athleisure has antecedents in Claire McCardell’s bodysuits and Y2K-era Prada Sport.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
With Love, Meghan could use some Martha Stewart style
Part of the problem is that as a celebrity, Meghan has two clear antecedents: Princess Diana and Martha Stewart.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for antecedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antecedent
Adjective
-
The panic nearly erased all the gains of the previous three years of Trump's administration.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
This was higher than the Reuters expectations of a 2.3% climb, and unchanged from the 2.4% rise in the previous quarter.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The presence of a chemical compound used in missile production, sodium perchlorate, was considered a possible cause.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, VistaVision was the forerunner of IMAX 65mm, with its horizontal orientation.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The company plans to recreate the mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, by editing the genome of each species’ closest living relative to make a hybrid animal that would be visually indistinguishable from its extinct forerunner.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Like all Guna, Lisa’s ancestors were not native island dwellers.—
Mark Johanson,
AFAR Media,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Water bottle The modern-day source of water for many people—their water bottle—may be just as germ-filled as our ancient ancestors’ go-to watering hole.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some say that news is a precursor to a recession, but that seems very unlikely given the other economic news.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 May 2025
-
The paintings are a precursor to Mexico’s famous catsta (caste) paintings — a genre invented to depict biracial families that was omnipresent during most of the 18th century.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Supporters would not respond well to such triumphalism if defeats come more regularly, and as his predecessor Gary O’Neil found, such feel-good sentiments do not take long to dissipate.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Trump mocked Carney’s predecessor by calling him Governor Trudeau.—
Rob Gillies,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antecedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antecedent. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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