as in previous
going before another in time or order
behavior that may be explained by a precedent event in her troubled life
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Recent Examples of precedent
This adaptation demands re-conceiving large chunks of plot from the ground-up while retaining Liu’s themes, not to mention visualizing concepts with less precedent onscreen than the fantasy tropes Martin deployed and subverted.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024
Judge Barrett did not entirely embrace the notion of super-precedent.
—Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020
Many legal scholars question the basis for declaring an ever-wider array of cases to be super-precedent as a way to protect favored rulings.
—Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020
Britain has no clear privacy law, so precedent matters.
—The Economist, 3 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for precedent
Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024
Judge Barrett did not entirely embrace the notion of super-precedent.
—Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020
Many legal scholars question the basis for declaring an ever-wider array of cases to be super-precedent as a way to protect favored rulings.
—Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020
Britain has no clear privacy law, so precedent matters.
—The Economist, 3 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for precedent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precedent
previous
Adjective
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Garcia’s arrival looks likely to mean consequences for Barca’s previous first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen — and already the drum-beat of rumour, speculation and comment from friendly local media, aimed at persuading Ter Stegen to leave, has begun.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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The Lincoln’s grille and headlamps had all but doubled in height over the previous generation, with other exterior elements growing thicker and bolder along the transition.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precedent. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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