Usage of Prior to
Although prior to is occasionally criticized as a pretentious way of saying before, it is well-established in formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. In some of these contexts, it serves to emphasize the procedural nature of something.
page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting
—
Publishers Weekly
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
The award was presented a couple of weeks prior to the show, which was broadcast live from Las Vegas on Sunday.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Chaac alleged that prior to Dragontail’s 2024 deployment in New York, the franchisee was among Pizza Hut’s best-performing operators in delivery times, customer satisfaction, and sales growth.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Peppers can be stored in the freezer, but should be washed and cut prior to freezing.
—Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Seven other passengers who left the ship and returned home prior to the outbreak’s discovery are being monitored by their state and local health departments, per the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prior to
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Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Chaac alleged that prior to Dragontail’s 2024 deployment in New York, the franchisee was among Pizza Hut’s best-performing operators in delivery times, customer satisfaction, and sales growth.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Peppers can be stored in the freezer, but should be washed and cut prior to freezing.
—Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Seven other passengers who left the ship and returned home prior to the outbreak’s discovery are being monitored by their state and local health departments, per the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prior to
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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