precedingpre‧ced‧ing /prɪˈsiːdɪŋ/ AWL adjective [only before noun] 
income tax paid in preceding yearspreceding chapter/paragraph/page etc the diagram in the preceding chapter
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He had been arrested at least fifteen times in the preceding five years.
- In the preceding section of the poem, Whitman is talking about how important it is to live in the present.
- The preceding chapters have described several key events in recent French history.
- The company made more profit in that one month than it made in the whole of the preceding year.
- This seems to contradict the argument in the preceding paragraph.
THESAURUS
[only before noun] used when talking about a person, thing, time etc before the one that you are talking about now: · The car’s previous owner didn’t take very good care of it.· Please ignore my previous instructions.· The temperature is higher than in previous years.
[only before noun] used when talking about the one that you had just before now, or the one that existed just before now: · The last apartment we lived in was much smaller than this one.· Ben’s last girlfriend was a teacher.· Beth broke up with her last boyfriend because he drank too much.
[only before noun] used when talking about people you knew or things you had in the past, or about things that existed in the past and have been replaced by newer things: · I never liked my old boss.· I saw Phil with one of my old girlfriends.· The new stadium is much bigger than the old one.· He was my old maths teacher.
[only before noun] formal coming just before the time or thing you have just mentioned, or before the part of a book where you are now: · There were fewer crimes compared to the preceding year.· The author dealt with this subject in the preceding chapters of the book.· In the preceding section of the poem, Whitman is talking about how important it is to live in the present.
[only before noun] formal used to describe someone or something that used to have a particular job or position but does not anymore: · her former husband· the former US president· Kyoto was the former capital of Japan.
someone who used to be someone’s wife, used to be a soldier etc, but is not anymore: · Her dad’s an ex-policeman.· Lydia is still friends with her ex-husband.
the person or thing that existed before the one you have just mentioned: · I didn’t enjoy Spielberg’s last film but I thought the one before was all right.· Each year, the convention is a little larger than the one before.
Longman Language Activatora time, day, month etc that comes before another one · The company recorded a 50% increase in profits over the previous year.· Kirsty's baby had been born the previous October, while she was still in England.
the morning, afternoon, or evening of the day before today: · My sister and I went shopping yesterday lunchtime.· We met yesterday morning to discuss plans for the conference.
the week, year etc before this one: · I spoke to Neil and Sandra last weekend. · We still haven't paid last month's rent.
the day, week, month, year before the one in the past that you have just mentioned: · The day before the exam, I felt worried and unprepared.· Last week she was in Paris, and the week before she was in Rome.
formal the preceding months, years etc are the ones just before the time in the past that you are talking about: · The company made more profit in that one month than it made in the whole of the preceding year.· He had been arrested at least fifteen times in the preceding five years.
before someone or something else in a list, line, series etc before something or someone else in a list, series, or set: · I think you were before me in line, weren't you?· Islington station is one stop before Finsbury Park on the Victoria Line.
to happen or exist before something or someone else: · Churchill was a much stronger leader than the man who came before him.· A planning session at eleven-thirty will precede the noon lunch discussion.be preceded by something: · Witnesses say the fire was preceded by a loud explosion.· In most cases the illness is preceded by vomiting and chills.
before another person in a group of people who are waiting to do something: · The man in front of me looked very familiar.· There were about fifty people ahead of us waiting for tickets.
coming before the one that you are dealing with now: · The previous chapter examined how children learn language.· Each number in the series 2 - 4 - 8 - 16 is twice as large as the previous number.
coming at some time before the one you have just mentioned - use this especially about something that is very different from what is happening now: · He used a lot more color in his earlier paintings.· The play lacks the wit and energy of Jergen's earlier work.
the thing that comes before another in a series: · When you're in prison, every day feels just like the one before.
formal coming before the thing you have just mentioned, or the part of a book where you are now: · The preceding chapters have described several key events in recent French history.· In the preceding section of the poem, Whitman is talking about how important it is to live in the present.
written use this to talk about a person or thing that was mentioned earlier: · Write to the above address for more information.· The above diagram shows a diesel car engine.the above (=the people or things mentioned earlier): · Contact any of the above for more details.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY income tax paid in preceding years the diagram in the preceding chapterCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash.
income tax paid in preceding years the diagram in the preceding chapter· The method is described in the previous chapter.
· He was the equal of any of the previous generation of great explorers.
I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash. (=the month before)· Sales were lower than in the previous month.
WORD FAMILYnounprecedentadjectiveprecedingverbprecede
formal happening or coming before the time, place, or part mentioned SYN previous OPP followingpreceding days/weeks/months/years income tax paid in preceding yearspreceding chapter/paragraph/page etc the diagram in the preceding chapter