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precedente

pre-se-DEN-te/pɾeseˈðente/

“precedente” means “precedent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

precedent

Also: background
NounmB2
A row of several green toy soldiers followed by a single blue toy soldier.

📝 In Action

No hay ningún precedente de una situación así en nuestra empresa.

B1

There is no precedent for a situation like this in our company.

Este fallo judicial sienta un precedente muy importante para el futuro.

B2

This court ruling sets a very important precedent for the future.

Su comportamiento no tiene precedentes; nunca habíamos visto algo igual.

C1

His behavior is unprecedented; we had never seen anything like it before.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • sentar un precedente – to set a precedent
  • sin precedentes – unprecedented

preceding

Also: previous
Adjectivem or fB2formal
A line of ducklings following a mother duck across a grassy field.

📝 In Action

Lo explicamos en el párrafo precedente.

B2

We explained it in the preceding paragraph.

Las semanas precedentes fueron muy estresantes.

B2

The preceding weeks were very stressful.

Consulte la tabla precedente para más información.

C1

See the previous table for more information.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • año precedente – previous year
  • página precedente – preceding page

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "precedente" in Spanish:

background→precedent→preceding→previous→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: precedente

Question 1 of 3

Which verb is used with 'precedente' to mean 'to set a precedent'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'praecedere', which combines 'prae' (before) and 'cedere' (to go). It literally means 'something that goes before'.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: precedentFrench: précédentItalian: precedente

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'precedente' and 'antecedente'?

'Precedente' is usually used for an event that establishes a rule or example for the future. 'Antecedente' refers more broadly to anything that happened before or someone's background history (like criminal records).

Can I use 'precedente' for a person?

No, 'precedente' refers to events, actions, or things. If you want to talk about the person who held a job before someone else, use 'predecesor'.

How common is this word in daily life?

You won't hear it much at a party, but you will see it every day in the news, legal documents, or academic textbooks.