precede

verb

1. 1

   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

2. 2

   move ahead (of others) in time or space

3. 3

   be the predecessor of

   Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands

4. 4

   come before

   Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify

5. 5

   be earlier in time; go back further

   Stone tools precede bronze tools