SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
antecedent
noun
Something that came earlier and helped shape a later event or development.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Earlier event or development
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA precursor may foreshadow something; an antecedent simply precedes it or contributes to its development.
Grammar: pronoun reference
No close substitute is listed for this sense. The expressions below help explain the idea.
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThe antecedent is the expression referred to, not the pronoun itself. Referent is broader and can name an entity rather than its wording.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See antecedent in use
The small reading club was an antecedent of the city's public library.
In Jo's workshop story, a missed train served as the antecedent to an unexpected meeting in an empty station cafe.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license