precede, predate -- (come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify")
precede, come before -- (be the predecessor of; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands")
precede, lead -- (move ahead (of others) in time or space)
precede, preface, premise, introduce -- (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")
Overview of adj preceding
The adj preceding has 2 senses
preceding -- (existing or coming before)
past, preceding, retiring -- (of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office; "a retiring member of the board")