antecedent

noun
UK: /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/
US: /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/

  1. A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

    1. My mother's visit was the antecedent to the big changes in my life. [ ] [ ]
    2. The argument was an antecedent to the fight that followed between the two friends. [ ] [ ]

  2. In grammar, the noun or noun phrase to which a pronoun refers.

    1. In 'The dog wagged its tail,' 'dog' is the antecedent. [ ] [ ]
    2. Understanding the antecedent is crucial for interpreting the sentence's meaning effectively. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

preceding prior forerunner precursor
antecedent adjective

  1. Preceding in time or order.

    1. The antecedent events led to the current situation. [ ] [ ]
    2. We must examine the antecedent causes of the conflict before proposing a solution. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "antecedent" in English means: A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another., In grammar, the noun or noun phrase to which a pronoun refers..

The phonetic transcription of "antecedent" is /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/ in British English and /ˌæntɪˈsiːdənt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "antecedent": preceding, prior, forerunner, precursor.

Example usage of "antecedent": "My mother's visit was the antecedent to the big changes in my life.". More examples on the page.