preceding

詞意辨析：

previous, foregoing, preceding, prior, former

這些形容詞均可表示“在前的”之意。
previous: 指時間上、順序上較早的，或指正在談論的某事的前一個。
foregoing: 指前所述的，是following的反義詞。
preceding: 特指時間和地位上緊接在前。
prior: 與previous同義，常可換用，但prior有時強調更大的重要性，對比意味強。
former: 系latter的反義詞，比prior更著重對比。　英文字典

英文解釋：

動詞 precede:

1. be earlier in time; go back further
   同義詞：predate, precede, forego, forgo, antecede, antedate
2. come before
   同義詞：precede, predate
3. be the predecessor of
   同義詞：precede, come before
4. move ahead (of others) in time or space
   同義詞：precede, lead
5. furnish with a preface or introduction
   同義詞：precede, preface, premise, introduce

形容詞 preceding:

1. existing or coming before
2. preceding in time or order
   同義詞：antecedent
3. of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office
   同義詞：past, retiring

字典網

中英例句：

1. In the years immediately preceding the outbreak of war in1939, Hitler succeeded in annexing various parts of Europe to Germany without firing a shot.
   在1939年大戰爆發的前幾年，希特勒沒開一搶而成功地把歐洲許多地區併吞為德國領土。
2. A preceding occurrence, cause, or event.
   先前的前面的事件，事情
3. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.
   序幕先於較重要部分的介紹性表演，事件或行動; 開端或序
4. This point has been dealt with in the preceding paragraph.
   這一點在前面一段里已經交代過了。