precede
verb.
be earlier in time; go back further
Stone tools precede bronze tools
Synonym: antecede, antedate, forego, forgo, predate
verb.
come before
Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
Synonym: predate
verb.
be the predecessor of
Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands
Synonym: come before
verb.
move ahead (of others) in time or space
Synonym: lead
verb.
furnish with a preface or introduction
She always precedes her lectures with a joke|He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution
Synonym: introduce, preface, premise
Antonym: follow, succeed