prior

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪ.ə/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪ.ɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Preposition

Preposition prior

1. If something happens prior to something else, it happens before it.

   In this recipe, most of the work is actually done prior to cooking.

   Prior to 1917 most people had lived on private farms.

2. (usually before a noun) occurring before

   We learned that police had prior knowledge of the attack.

   Few of these workers have any substantial prior experience in industry.

Synonyms

• previous
• earlier