anterior
adjective
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Anterior generally appears in either medical or scholarly contexts. Anatomy books refer to the anterior lobe of the brain, the anterior cerebral artery, the anterior facial vein, etc. Scholar and lawyers may use anterior to mean "earlier in time or order". For example, supporters of states' rights point out that the individual states enjoyed certain rights anterior to their joining the union. And prenuptial agreements are designed to protect the assets that one or both parties acquired anterior to the marriage.
Synonyms
- fore
- forward
- front
- frontal
- frontward
- frontwards
Example Sentences
Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 2 Sep. 2022 Winston tore anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and the meniscus of his left knee in the seventh game of the 2021 NFL season and missed the rest of the Saints’ schedule. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 9 Aug. 2022 The 5-foot-11 guard missed 19 games last season after suffering an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in the same left knee. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2022 My anterior tibialis muscle in my ankle was spasming from wiggling my ski tip. Frederick Reimers, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2020 Joe Burrow's left knee has been a point of concern after the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in 2020. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 27 July 2022 While seated, rotate slightly to one side to open up the anterior aspect of the chest. Perri O. Blumberg, Men's Health, 14 July 2022 The hoods have an opening at the anterior end, and there's a layer of water between the surface of the hoods' interior and the shrimp eyes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 July 2022 And don’t forget all the museums that my right superior anterior temporal lobe feels guilty about never going to. Teddy Wayne, The New Yorker, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
Latin, comparative of ante before — more at ante-
1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing anterior
Medical Definition
anterior
adjective
anterior
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- front
- frontal
- ventral
- fore
- frontward
- frontwards
- forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- posterior
- rear
- hind
- dorsal
- hinder
- aft
- after
- rearward
- hindmost
Synonyms & Similar Words
- previous
- preceding
- antecedent
- earliest
- prior
- former
- early
- initial
- precedent
- original
- advance
- preexisting
- premature
- foregoing
- first
- preliminary
- introductory
- inaugural
- pioneer
- erstwhile
- maiden
- whilom
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- posterior
- subsequent
- following
- later
- succeeding
- ensuing
- after
- advanced
- late
- latter
- last
- final
- terminal
- latest
- ultimate
- concluding
- closing
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of anterior are antecedent, foregoing, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.
The synonyms antecedent and anterior are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.
The words foregoing and anterior are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.
The meanings of former and anterior largely overlap; however, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.
While in some cases nearly identical to anterior, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.
Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.