Usage of Prior to
Sometimes termed pompous or affected, prior to is a synonym of before that most often appears in rather formal contexts, such as the annual reports of corporations. It may occasionally emphasize the notion of anticipation.
page makeup decisions are verified and approved prior to typesetting
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Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Synonyms
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 group spent the past five years putting No Other Land together, with much of it shot prior to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2025
Two Red Cross officials took part in a signing ceremony with a Hamas commander on a stage prior to the handover.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 8 Feb. 2025
The government acknowledged that 2,200 USAID employees were set to be put on leave at midnight barring court action, not including the other 500 people who were already on leave prior to Friday.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2025
Gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
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Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2025
Two Red Cross officials took part in a signing ceremony with a Hamas commander on a stage prior to the handover.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 8 Feb. 2025
The government acknowledged that 2,200 USAID employees were set to be put on leave at midnight barring court action, not including the other 500 people who were already on leave prior to Friday.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2025
Gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prior to
Dictionary Entries Near prior to
Cite this Entry
“Prior to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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