prior to

preposition
UK: /ˌpraɪər tə/
US: /ˌpraɪər tə/

  1. Before a particular time or event.

    1. We need to finish this prior to the deadline.
    2. The soldiers had specific instructions for actions prior to engagement.

Synonyms

before
prior to adverb

  1. Earlier than a specific time or event; before.

    1. Please arrive prior to 8 AM for the meeting.
    2. All data must be submitted prior to the system update on Friday.
prior to adjective

  1. More important than something else.

    1. Safety is always prior to speed during the race.
    2. The board deemed customer satisfaction as prior to short-term profits.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Synonyms for "prior to": before.

Example usage of "prior to": "We need to finish this prior to the deadline.". More examples on the page.