Be earlier in time; go back further:
— Stone tools precede bronze tools.

synonyms: antecede, antedate, forego, forgo, predate.

Roget 33: be superior etc. adj.; exceed, excel, transcend; outdo, outbalance^†, outweigh, outrank, outrival, out-Herod; pass, surpass, get ahead of; over-top, override, overpass, overbalance, overweigh, overmatch; top, o'ertop, cap, beat, cut out; beat hollow; outstrip etc. 303; eclipse, throw into the shade, take the shine out of, outshine, put one's nose out of joint; have the upper hand, have the whip hand of, have the advantage; turn the scale, kick the beam; play first fiddle etc. (importance) 642; preponderate, predominate, prevail; precede, take precedence, come first; come to a head, culminate; beat all others, etc. bear the palm; break the record; take the cake [U.S.].    become larger, render larger etc. (increase) 35, (expand) 194.    ... show more

Dutch: antecederen, antedateren, laten voorbijgaan, passen, precederen, vooraf gaan, voorafgaan

Come before:
— Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify.

synonym: predate.

Be the predecessor of:
— Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands.

synonym: come before.

Roget 116: precede, come before; forerun; go before etc. (lead) 280; preexist; dawn; presage etc. 511; herald, usher in.    be beforehand etc. (be early) 132; steal a march upon, anticipate, forestall; have the start, gain the start.    ... show more

Dutch: antecederen, precederen, voorafgaan

Move ahead (of others) in time or space.

synonym: lead.

Dutch: voorgaan, voorlopen

Furnish with a preface or introduction:
— She always precedes her lectures with a joke.

synonyms: introduce, preface, premise.

Roget 62: precede; come before, come first; head, lead, take the lead; lead the way, lead the dance; be in the vanguard; introduce, usher in; have the pas; set the fashion etc. (influence) 175; open the ball; take precedence, have precedence; have the start etc. (get before) 280.    place before; prefix; premise, prelude, preface.    ... show more

Roget 280: go before, go ahead, go in the van, go in advance; precede, forerun; usher in, introduce, herald, head, take the lead; lead the way, lead the dance; get the start, have the start; steal a march; get before, get ahead, get in front of; outstrip etc. 303; take precedence etc. (first in order) 62.    ... show more