Antecedent

usgb/ˌæntɪˈsiːdnt/
noun

A thing that came before, the earlier one.

The history of that civil war has some antecedents relevant to the current situation.
Visual representation of "antecedent" - A thing that came before, the earlier one.

Often appears as...

  • historical antecedents
  • cultural antecedents

Usage tips

Formal

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "antecedent"
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Historical Context

Often used when discussing history or evolution to link past with present.

Illustration for Historical Context
The antecedents of modern democracy can be traced back to ancient Greece.
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Cause and Effect

Think of 'antecedent' as what sets the stage for something else to happen.

Illustration for Cause and Effect
Poor planning was the antecedent of the project's failure.
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Sequence Clarity

Use 'antecedent' to clarify order when discussing sequences of events or ideas.

Illustration for Sequence Clarity
Understanding the antecedent theories helps in studying modern psychological approaches.
Visual representation of the word "Antecedent"

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