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 Alphabet showed Google Cloud revenue growth accelerating to 48%, from 34% the prior quarter, on a year over year basis. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026 Nearly two-thirds of the 3,500 immigrants arrested in the state last year had no prior criminal convictions, according to ICE records obtained by the Deportation Data Project. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026 The driver was apprehended and has prior convictions for being an armed felon and an outstanding warrant, according to the department. —Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 8 Feb. 2026 There have been other shootings, including homicides, in the Uptown district in prior years. —The Mercury News, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prior
  1. main
  2. previous
  3. primary
  4. first
  5. predominant
  6. foremost
  7. dominant
  8. leading
Adjective
  • The drinks themselves Berghain’s drink selection is certainly not the club’s main point of attraction.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Then his main competitor, Yuma Yagiyama of Japan, had a subpar skate just before Malinin took the ice as the last skater of the night.
    — John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Many of those include previous Gasthaus customers.
    — Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The Winneshiek County dairy with about 330 head of dairy cattle has been cited for two previous fish kill incidents, where manure leaked from the operation into a tributary of Dry Run Creek.
    — Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of previous
Adjective
  • The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have launched a $50 million program to bring AI capabilities to 1,000 primary health care clinics across Africa.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The Amazon-like company has been subjected to a number of investigations, raids, and inspections initiated by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, the country’s primary antitrust regulator, in recent years.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • In August 2025, a 1,063-square-foot home on the first block of South Claremont Avenue in San Jose sold for $915,000, a price per square foot of $861.
    — Unitedrobotsrealestate, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Food preferences begin in the first years of life, so the findings of the study are alarming, said Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, an alliance of nonprofits, scientists and donors with a mission of reducing babies’ exposures to neurotoxic chemicals.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of first
Adjective
  • But the predominant response has been one of welcome, support and encouragement.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For the past fifty years, the predominant theory held that our capacity to parse complicated syntax rested on specialized, innate faculties.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • About Artforum Artforum is the magazine of record for the contemporary art industry and holds the unique roles of institution, nexus, and foremost tastemaker of the art world.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Here are the foremost players who hit that category for the Broncos in 2026, according to OvertheCap.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • According to the Washington Post, there's currently about $200 million in political bets riding on the two dominant prediction platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Dee Valladares is widely considered the most dominant winner in Survivor’s new era.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Jones then transitioned into leading roles that showcased his range.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Pediatricians face off against the government The American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation’s leading professional organization for doctors who care for kids, and the nation’s federal health agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, are at war.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 13 Feb. 2026
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 15 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of prior for Spanish Speakers

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