| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | earlier |
| Synonyms: | above-mentioned, aforementioned, ahead, antecedent, anterior, before, foregoing, former, forward, past, precedent, preceding, preexistent, preexisting, previous |
| Antonyms: | after, later |
| Main Entry: | early |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | in the beginning |
| Synonyms: | a bit previous, aboriginal, ancient, antecedent, antediluvian, antiquated, brand-new, budding, early bird, fresh, initial, new, original, preceding, premier, prevenient, previous, primal, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial, prior, pristine, proleptical, raw, recent, undeveloped, young |
| Antonyms: | late |
| Main Entry: | foregoing |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | come before; previous |
| Synonyms: | above, aforementioned, aforesaid, aforestated, antecedent, anterior, former, past, precedent, preceding, prior |
| Antonyms: | after |
| Main Entry: | former |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | previous in time or order |
| Synonyms: | above, aforementioned, aforesaid, ancient, antecedent, anterior, bygone, departed, earlier, erstwhile, ex-, first, foregoing, late, long ago, long gone, of yore, old, once, one-time, past, preceding, prior, quondam, sometime, whilom |
| Notes: | latter means referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned; former means referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned |
| Antonyms: | after, current, ensuing, following, future, present, prospective, subsequent, succeeding |
| Main Entry: | introductory |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | preliminary, first |
| Synonyms: | anterior, basic, beginning, early, elementary, inaugural, incipient, inductive, initial, initiatory, opening, original, precursory, prefatory, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary, prior, proemial, provisional, rudimentary, starting |
| Antonyms: | concluding, ending, final, finishing, last |
| Main Entry: | older |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | most senior |
| Synonyms: | earlier, elder, eldest, first, first-born, former, lower, of a former period, of an earlier time, preceding, prior, senior |
| Notes: | elder is used when precedence with respect to birth order is the point; older is used when the point is seniority with respect to age |
| Antonyms: | younger |
| Main Entry: | past |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | preceding, done |
| Synonyms: | accomplished, ago, antecedent, anterior, completed, elapsed, ended, extinct, finished, foregoing, forgotten, former, gone, gone by, over, over and done, precedent, previous, prior, spent |
| Antonyms: | current, future, present |
| Main Entry: | past |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | olden, former |
| Synonyms: | ages ago, ancient, ancient history, back when, behind one, bygone, bypast, down memory lane, earlier, early, erstwhile, ex-, foregoing, gone-by, good old days, late, latter, latter-day, long-ago, old, olden days, once, one-time, over, preceding, previous, prior, quondam, recent, retired, sometime, time was, way back, way back when |
| Antonyms: | current, future, present |
| Main Entry: | preceding |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | earlier, above |
| Synonyms: | above-mentioned, above-named, aforeknown, aforementioned, aforesaid, ahead of, antecedent, anterior, before, erstwhile, foregoing, forerunning, former, forward, front, head, heretofore, introductory, lead, leading, one time, other, past, pioneer, pioneering, precedent, precursive, precursory, preexistent, prefatory, preliminary, preparatory, prevenient, previous, prior, prodromal, supra |
| Notes: | preceding means 'occurring immediately before the time of the utterance,' while previous means 'occurring at some time before the utterance' |
| Antonyms: | after, below, following, later |