antecedes

antecedes — verb

  • antecedespresent simple I / you / we / they
  • antecedeses3rd person singular
  • antecedesing-ing form
  • antecedesedpast simple

1. to exist or happen at an earlier time than another event, person, or thing in a

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to exist or happen at an earlier time than another event, person, or thing in a sequence — for example, the Bronze Age antecedes the Iron Age, or a first draft antecedes the final version.

例句

A short period of training antecedes the final exam at Marta's trade school.

simple pattern: [event] antecedes [later event]

In the museum's collection, a painting from 1928 antecedes the more famous work from 1935.

context with concrete dates

同義詞
  • precede

    more common in both formal and informal contexts; 'antecede' is rarer and more literary

  • antedate

    specifically refers to a date or document being earlier; narrower than 'antecede'

  • come before

    everyday phrasal expression; neutral register, unlike the formal 'antecede'

反義詞
  • follow

    direct opposite; much more common in all registers

  • succeed

    more formal opposite, meaning 'to come after in time or position'

文法句型

antecede + [something]

用法筆記

Frequently used in formal or academic writing about historical sequences, discoveries, or creative works. A more formal alternative to 'comes before' or 'precedes.' Not commonly used in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌Spring antecedes summer every year.
✅Spring comes before summer every year.
💡'antecedes' is too formal for ordinary seasonal references; use 'comes before' or 'precedes.'
❌The meeting anteceded the lunch break.
✅The meeting preceded the lunch break.
💡'precede' is the more common word for everyday scheduling; 'antecede' is best reserved for historical or formal contexts.