prioradjective [ before noun ]
uk/praɪər/us/praɪr/prior adjective [ before noun ] (EARLIER)
C1 formal existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time:
The course required no prior knowledge of Spanish.
They had to refuse the dinner invitation because of a prior engagement (= something already planned for that time).
prior to sth
C1 before a particular time or event:
the weeks prior to her death
More examples
- You can only withdraw money from this account by prior arrangement with the bank.
- It's a pretty steep learning curve when you're thrown into a job with no prior experience.
- We reserve the right to make changes to the schedule without prior notice.
- Due to a prior engagement Mr Richards is unable to attend.
- No prior knowledge of the language is required.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Before, after and already
- afore
- after
- afterwards
- already
- ante
- as it is idiom
- following
- formerly
- front
- gone
- heretofore
- immediate
- in advance idiom
- in advance of sth/sb idiom
- later
- shortly
- subsequent
- successor
- thereafter
- this
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prior adjective [ before noun ] (MORE IMPORTANT)
formal more important:
Mothers with young children have a prior claim on funds.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Very important or urgent
- all-important
- arch
- at all cost(s) idiom
- be a matter of life and/or death idiom
- burning
- chief
- considerable
- critical
- major league
- make the world go around/round idiom
- materially
- minor league
- mission-critical
- radical
- sacred
- salient
- serious
- seriously
- substantial
- substantially
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priornoun [ C ]
uk/praɪər/us/praɪr/a man who is in charge of a priory or who is second in charge of an abbey
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Religious people: monks & nuns
- abbess
- abbey
- abbot
- anchorite
- ascetic
- benedictine
- flagellant
- Franciscan
- friar
- friary
- habit
- hermit
- monasticism
- monk
- mother
- novice
- nun
- sister
- Trappist monk
- veil
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