The state of preceding in importance or priority. / Precedent.

plural of precedence

An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. / (now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

(transitive, law) To provide precedents for. / (transitive, law) To be a precedent for.

(transitive) To go before, go in front of. / (transitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce. / (transitive) To have higher rank than (someone or something else).

Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay)

Occurring before or in front of something else, in time, place, rank or sequence.

present participle of precede

simple past tense and past participle of precede