1. To come, go, be, or happen before someone or something else in time, position, or importance: In a parade, the band always precedes the fancy floats.
2. To say or to do something prior to something else: In his speeches, the mayor always preceded his main theme with several jokes to make people laugh.
3. To be higher in order or rank; to surpass or to outrank: In organisations such as school boards, the principal typically precedes the teachers in importance.
4. To go in advance of; to lead: The star of the movie was preceding the others when she entered the auditorium where the movie awards were being given out.
5. To preface; to introduce: The author preceded her lecture with a funny anecdote.