precede

1. (transitive) To go before, go in front of.Examples: "Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide."; "But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe / Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem / Of our integritie"; "This is the custom of sending on a basket-woman, who is to precede the pomp at a coronation, and to strew the stage with flowers, before the great personages begin their procession."Synonyms: forego

2. (transitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.Examples: "It has been usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration communicated to the enemy."

3. (transitive) To have higher rank than (someone or something else).