prior

Pronunciation: /ˈpraɪər/

adjective

Difficulty: common

Definition of prior

Existing or occurring before in time, order, or importance, often implying precedence or priority over subsequent elements.

Origin of prior

Language of origin: Latin

Root word: prior

Original meaning: former, earlier

How it evolved: Originally used in Latin to describe something preceding in time or rank, the word transitioned into English retaining its sense of precedence and importance.

Derived from Latin 'prior', meaning 'former' or 'earlier', the word has maintained its sense of precedence through centuries of usage.

First known use: 15th century

How to Remember prior

Imagine a 'priority queue' where 'prior' items come first—just like how the word suggests something earlier or more important.

Synonyms for prior

  • preceding
  • former
  • antecedent
  • preliminary
  • foregoing
  • earlier
  • past
  • prioritizing

Antonyms of prior

prior in a Sentence

  1. The committee reviewed the prior research to ensure their study built upon established findings.
  2. Her prior commitment prevented her from attending the gala, much to everyone's disappointment.
  3. It is crucial to address prior concerns before proposing new initiatives to the team.

prior in Literature & Culture

The word 'prior' frequently appears in literature, such as historical novels and philosophical texts, to establish timelines or precedence in events. It is also common in legal and academic writing.

Usage Notes

While 'prior' generally refers to something earlier, avoid redundancy by not pairing it with words like 'before' in phrases such as 'prior before the event.' Use 'prior to' for formal contexts and avoid overuse in casual writing.

Why prior Matters for GRE & SAT

Words describing time relationships, such as 'prior', are frequently tested on the GRE to assess comprehension of sequences, logic, and precedence in complex texts.

Word Family

priority (noun)
The state of being more important or urgent than others.
prioritize (verb)
To designate or treat something as more important than other things.
posterior (adjective)
Occurring or situated after something else in time or order.

Did You Know?

  • In monastic contexts, a 'prior' is the title for the deputy head of a religious house, showing the word’s connection to rank and precedence.
  • The word 'prior' is often used in legal documents to denote previous agreements or conditions.
  • Famous philosopher Aristotle extensively used concepts of 'prior' and 'posterior' to explain causality and logic.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with P

  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • painstaking — Done with or employing great care and thoroughness
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • palpable — So intense as to seem almost tangible
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial