prior

prior — adjective

1. Relating to a time that comes before another specified moment or action.

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

Relating to a time that comes before another specified moment or action.

Example

Gabriel missed the team meeting because of a prior dental appointment.

collocation: prior appointment

Tuan's first laboratory class assumes no prior training in chemistry.

collocation: prior training

Common collocations
  • prior agreement
  • prior arrangement
  • prior commitment
  • prior experience
  • prior knowledge
  • prior approval
  • prior notice
  • prior engagement
  • prior appointment
  • prior training
Synonyms
  • previous

    more general and slightly less formal; preferred in everyday speech

  • earlier

    focuses simply on time, without the same binding or scheduling implication

  • preceding

    more formal and often refers to the immediately previous item in a sequence

Antonyms
  • later

    refers to something that comes after

  • subsequent

    formal term for something that follows

Grammar Patterns

prior + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). Common in formal business, academic, and legal contexts.

Common Mistakes

I have a previous commitment for this time slot.
I have a prior commitment for this time slot.
'prior' is the preferred word in formal scheduling situations.

2. Used in the phrase 'prior to' with the meaning of earlier than a specified momen

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

Used in the phrase 'prior to' with the meaning of earlier than a specified moment, event, or action. It serves as a more formal alternative to the word 'before'.

Example

Dylan checked the train schedule prior to buying his ticket for the journey.

grammar: prior to + gerund

A security guard searched every bag prior to the concert at the stadium.

grammar: prior to + noun

Common collocations
  • prior to departure
  • prior to the meeting
  • prior to the event
  • prior to arrival
  • prior to leaving
  • prior to the start
  • prior to signing
Synonyms
  • before

    the everyday, neutral alternative; less formal than 'prior to'

  • preceding

    also formal but used as an adjective, not a preposition

Antonyms
  • after

    the opposite of 'prior to'

Grammar Patterns

prior to + noun

prior to + gerund

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'to' as a compound preposition. 'Prior to' is more common in formal written English than in casual conversation, where 'before' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

Prior the exam, I studied all night.
Prior to the exam, I studied all night.
'prior' must be followed by 'to' when linking to a time or event.

3. Having greater importance or authority than other matters, so that it must be de

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

Having greater importance or authority than other matters, so that it must be dealt with first.

Example

The original artist holds a prior claim to any profits from selling the painting.

collocation: prior claim

Under the new rules, local residents have a prior claim on housing in their neighbourhood.

collocation: prior claim

Common collocations
  • prior claim
  • prior right
  • prior consideration
  • prior importance
  • prior status
Synonyms
  • paramount

    stronger; means the most important of all

  • precedential

    technical legal term for setting a legal precedent

Antonyms
  • secondary

    less important; coming after in priority

Grammar Patterns

prior + noun

Usage Note

Common in legal contexts such as property rights, inheritance, and contracts. The focus is on priority in importance or authority rather than in time.

Common Mistakes

This issue is prior than that one.
This issue takes prior importance over that one.
'prior' is not followed by 'than'; use 'over' or 'to' for comparisons.

prior — noun

Word family

  • priority
    nounB2
  • prioritize
    verbB2
  • prioritisation
    nounC1
  • prioritization
    nounC1
  • priorly
    adverb

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Previous, earlier, former, preceding, and prior all refer to something that comes before another thing, but they differ in formality and emphasis. Previous is the most general and informal — it simply means 'happening before now', as in 'the previous chapter' or 'my previous job'. Earlier focuses specifically on time and is neutral in register, e.g. 'an earlier version of the software'. Former suggests something that is no longer current or true, such as 'a former colleague' or 'the former capital'. Preceding is more formal and refers to the immediately previous item in a sequence, like 'the preceding paragraph'. Prior is the most formal of the group and often implies that the earlier thing has some binding significance — for instance, a prior commitment cannot easily be changed, whereas a previous commitment might simply be something you did before.

previous ↗earlier ↗former ↗preceding

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • prior to

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Prior entered English from Latin 'prior', which was the comparative form of an old Latin adjective meaning 'before' or 'earlier'. The word came through Old French around the 14th century, first as a noun referring to a monastic superior — the leader of a priory. Over the following centuries, the adjective senses developed: first meaning 'earlier in time', and later extending to the sense of 'more important or taking precedence'.