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Antecedent

/ˌantɪˈsiːdənt/

Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Antecedent"

noun

1
Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
2
An ancestor.
3
(grammar) A word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun.
4
The conditional part of a hypothetical proposition, i.e. p \rightarrow q, where p is the antecedent, and q is the consequent.

adjective

1
Earlier, either in time or in order.
"an antecedent cause"
2
Presumptive.
"an antecedent improbability"

🔄 Synonyms of "Antecedent"

10 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
preceding	Occurring before or in front of something else, in time, place, rank or sequence.
ascendentnoun	Archaic spelling of ascendant. [Moving upward; ascending, rising.]
ascendantnoun	Moving upward; ascending, rising.
forerunnernoun	A precursor or harbinger, a warning ahead.
anterior	(anatomy) Nearer the forward end, especially in the front of the body; nearer the head or forepart of an animal.
antenoun	(poker) In poker and other games, the contribution made by all players to the pot, often before dealing all the cards.
ancestornoun	One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather; a forebear.
prevenient	Relating to prevenience; anticipatory.
anticipatory	Characterized by anticipation.
preexistent	Existing previously.

↔️ Antonyms of "Antecedent"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
subsequentnoun	Following in time; coming or being after something else at any time, indefinitely.
descendantnoun	One of the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.
descendentnoun	Misspelling of descendant. [One of the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.]

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Antecedent"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
priornoun	Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.
precedingverb	Occurring before or in front of something else, in time, place, rank or sequence.
preexistent	Existing previously.
prevenientnoun	Relating to prevenience; anticipatory.
anticipatory	Characterized by anticipation.
antenoun	(poker) In poker and other games, the contribution made by all players to the pot, often before dealing all the cards.
ascendantnoun	Moving upward; ascending, rising.
ascendentnoun	Archaic spelling of ascendant. [Moving upward; ascending, rising.]
ancestornoun	One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather; a forebear.
forerunnernoun	A precursor or harbinger, a warning ahead.
anterior	(anatomy) Nearer the forward end, especially in the front of the body; nearer the head or forepart of an animal.
earlier	previously; before now; sooner
previousnoun	(not comparable) Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
precursornoun	That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor, or indicator of approaching events.
precedentnoun	An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
predecessornoun	One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
advancenoun	To help the progress of (something); to further.
historynoun	The aggregate of past events.
backgroundnoun	A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
backdropnoun	The setting or background of an acted performance.