precede/prIˋsid; prIˈsiːd/v [T] formal to happen or exist before something else [ follow ] 【正式】先于…(发生或存在): The fire was preceded by a loud explosion. 先是一声巨大的爆炸声﹐接着就起火了。 —preceding adj [only before noun 仅用于名词前] an increase of 18% on the preceding year 较上一年增加了 18%