predate

verb

(ˌ)prē-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
Definition of predatenext
as in to precede
to go or come before in time gunpowder predated the invention of the gun by several centuries

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of predate The category went viral on TikTok, though the underlying physiology predates the trend. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 Korkiya noted that the Bushehr Units 2 and 3 project predates the 2024 roadmap, meaning the document did not originate that cooperation but rather incorporated an existing strategic project into the broader Russia-Iran framework. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 All these trends predate the foreign oil cutoff and the newest sanctions by years, if not decades, but each now appears to be accelerating. — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026 For years, a Clarus sculpture held a prominent spot in the icon garden outside the Apple headquarters buildings, predating Apple Park’s spaceship structure. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for predate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predate
precede
Verb
  • Two blocks of six films each, running roughly an hour apiece, will precede the awards and the jury announcement.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • This is a home designed not to impress, but to reaffirm that rare sense of familiarity that, at times, even precedes memory.
    — Amir Capogrossi Badreddine, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of precede

Browse Nearby Words

predaceous
predate
predated
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Cite this Entry

“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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