prior

adjective

ˈprī(-ə)r How to pronounce prior (audio)
Definition of priornext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance this assignment will be prior to any other work you may have

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in previous
going before another in time or order we've made prior arrangements

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prior distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of prior are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, and previous. While all these words mean "being before," previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

In what contexts can antecedent take the place of prior?

While in some cases nearly identical to prior, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When might anterior be a better fit than prior?

Although the words anterior and prior have much in common, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When can foregoing be used instead of prior?

The meanings of foregoing and prior largely overlap; however, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of prior?

The words former and prior can be used in similar contexts, but former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When is preceding a more appropriate choice than prior?

In some situations, the words preceding and prior are roughly equivalent. However, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

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 prior Loving also acknowledges that there had been conflicts between prior clerk-treasurers and the council. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025 Chad Daybell, convicted of murdering a prior wife and his current wife’s two children, is the latest addition to the group. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 27 May 2025 The Hurricanes had lost their prior 15 Eastern Conference Final games before Monday’s win. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025 The government has argued that the men had a history with the immigration system, giving them prior opportunities to express a fear of being deported to a country outside their homeland. —Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prior
  1. main
  2. previous
  3. primary
  4. first
  5. predominant
  6. dominant
  7. foremost
  8. leading
Adjective
  • Homelessness is certainly a major problem, said Julie Hayden, CEO of the East County Transitional Living Center, the area’s main shelter.
    — Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
  • The golden flying snake bears two main color morphs — a green-yellow form sports bold black streaks and occasional reddish dorsal spots, and another form where the same base hues are overlaid with subtler crossbars.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Garcia’s arrival looks likely to mean consequences for Barca’s previous first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen — and already the drum-beat of rumour, speculation and comment from friendly local media, aimed at persuading Ter Stegen to leave, has begun.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • The Lincoln’s grille and headlamps had all but doubled in height over the previous generation, with other exterior elements growing thicker and bolder along the transition.
    — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025
Definition of previous
Adjective
  • Less than one-fifth received primary funding from their US college or university.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
  • Musk has said that Tesla is testing driverless vehicles in that market, but its primary competitor Waymo is already operating a major commercial robotaxi service there in partnership with Uber.
    — Lora Kolodny,Chris Eudaily, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Adding to the shock factor of this particular comeback was how badly Indiana handled the ball in the first half.
    — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Her hard work and achievements paid off when, in 1983, Louisiana State University Medical Center hired her to become the nation’s first woman to lead a cardiovascular surgery division.
    — Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Definition of first
Adjective
  • But the predominant theme of the debate was Cuomo facing attacks from the eight other candidates, who laced into him on everything from public safety and education to affordable housing production and the ex-governor’s integrity.
    — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
  • Apparently natural selection among the Uru, Aymara and Quechua peoples of the Bolivian Altiplano took DNA sequences that are present but rare in other populations around the world and increased their frequency to the point where the normally uncommon sequences are predominant in these groups.
    — Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Junior pitcher Kayla Schweich, a St. Cloud State commit, has been dominant in the circle for much of the year for Farmington, with Lexi Goring and Wisconsin commit Lila Johannsen filling out a lethal top of the order.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
  • Edmonton has been just as dominant through the playoffs, coming back to beat Los Angeles in the first round before dispatching Vegas and Dallas.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2025
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • The foremost conflict playing out across the Middle East today is between Israel and Iran, a nation that already possesses a sophisticated and large-scale nuclear program.
    — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • Shue returned to acting in the 2010s and has had leading roles on several shows — including Super Pumped, On the Verge, The Boys and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — as well as in films such as Battle of the Sexes (2019), Greyhound (2020) and The Good Half (2023).
    — Keith Langston, People.com, 1 June 2025
  • This was bricolage in the mode of postmodernism, to use a term that Jencks had a leading role in propagating, defining it in multiple competing and overlapping (some would say maddening) ways.
    — Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Definition of leading

Phrases Containing prior

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prints
prior
prioress
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Cite this Entry

“Prior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prior. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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