pre ‧ cede AC /prɪˈsiːd/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ precede ; noun : ↑ precedent ; adjective : ↑ preceding ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: précéder , from Latin praecedere 'to go in front' ]
1 . to happen or exist before something or someone, or to come before something else in a series ⇨ preceding :
a type of cloud that precedes rain
Lunch will be preceded by a short speech from the chairman.
2 . to go somewhere before someone else:
The guard preceded them down the corridor.