If one event or period of time precedes another, it happens before it. Intensive negotiations between the main parties preceded the vote The earthquake was preceded by a loud roar and lasted 20 seconds Industrial orders had already fallen in the preceding months
A sentence, paragraph, or chapter that precedes another one comes just before it. Look at the information that precedes the paragraph in question Repeat the exercises described in the preceding section. follow
furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution"
To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; used with by or with before the instrumental object