| antecedent | | |
| n. (person) | 1. ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root | someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent). |
| ~ ancestress | a woman ancestor. |
| ~ forbear, forebear | a person from whom you are descended. |
| ~ forefather, father, sire | the founder of a family.; "keep the faith of our forefathers" |
| ~ foremother | a woman ancestor. |
| ~ primogenitor, progenitor | an ancestor in the direct line. |
| ~ relative, relation | a person related by blood or marriage.; "police are searching for relatives of the deceased"; "he has distant relations back in New Jersey" |
| n. (event) | 2. antecedent | a preceding occurrence or cause or event. |
| ~ cause | events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something.; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash" |
| n. (linkdef) | 3. antecedent, forerunner | anything that precedes something similar in time.; "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience" |
| ~ temporal relation | a relation involving time. |
| n. (communication) | 4. antecedent | the referent of an anaphor; a phrase or clause that is referred to by an anaphoric pronoun. |
| ~ referent | something referred to; the object of a reference. |
| adj. | 5. antecedent | preceding in time or order. |
| ~ prior, anterior | earlier in time. |
| ~ anticipatory, prevenient | in anticipation. |
| ~ pre-existent, pre-existing, preexistent, preexisting | existing previously or before something.; "variations on pre-existent musical themes" |
| ~ preceding | existing or coming before. |
| first | | |
| n. (linkdef) | 1. first, number one | the first or highest in an ordering or series.; "He wanted to be the first" |
| ~ former | the first of two or the first mentioned of two.; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today" |
| ~ rank | relative status.; "his salary was determined by his rank and seniority" |
| n. (quantity) | 2. first, number 1, number one | the first element in a countable series.; "the first of the month" |
| ~ no., ordinal, ordinal number | the number designating place in an ordered sequence. |
| n. (time) | 3. beginning, commencement, first, get-go, kickoff, offset, outset, showtime, start, starting time | the time at which something is supposed to begin.; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" |
| ~ birth | the time when something begins (especially life).; "they divorced after the birth of the child"; "his election signaled the birth of a new age" |
| ~ incipience, incipiency | beginning to exist or to be apparent.; "he placed the incipience of democratic faith at around 1850"; "it is designed to arrest monopolies in their incipiency" |
| ~ point in time, point | an instant of time.; "at that point I had to leave" |
| ~ starting point, terminus a quo | earliest limiting point. |
| ~ threshold | the starting point for a new state or experience.; "on the threshold of manhood" |
| n. (act) | 4. first, first base | the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate). |
| ~ position | (in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player.; "what position does he play?" |
| ~ baseball team | a team that plays baseball. |
| n. (communication) | 5. first, first-class honours degree | an honours degree of the highest class. |
| ~ honours, honours degree | a university degree with honors. |
| ~ double first | a first-class honours degree in two subjects. |
| ~ britain, great britain, u.k., uk, united kingdom, united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland | a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom. |
| n. (artifact) | 6. first, first gear, low, low gear | the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving. |
| ~ auto, automobile, car, motorcar, machine | a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine.; "he needs a car to get to work" |
| ~ gear mechanism, gear | a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle). |
| adj. | 7. first | preceding all others in time or space or degree.; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training" |
| ~ front | relating to or located in the front.; "the front lines"; "the front porch" |
| ~ early | at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time.; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties" |
| ~ archetypal, archetypical, prototypal, prototypic, prototypical | representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned.; "archetypal patterns"; "she was the prototypal student activist" |
| ~ introductory, basic | serving as a base or starting point.; "a basic course in Russian"; "basic training for raw recruits"; "a set of basic tools"; "an introductory art course" |
| ~ initial | occurring at the beginning.; "took the initial step toward reconciliation" |
| ~ eldest, firstborn | first in order of birth.; "the firstborn child" |
| ~ first-year, freshman | used of a person in the first year of an experience (especially in United States high school or college).; "a freshman senator"; "freshman year in high school or college" |
| ~ original | preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed.; "the original inhabitants of the Americas"; "the book still has its original binding"; "restored the house to its original condition"; "the original performance of the opera"; "the original cast"; "retracted his original statement" |
| ~ premiere, premier | preceding all others in time.; "the premiere showing" |
| ~ premier, prime | first in rank or degree.; "an architect of premier rank"; "the prime minister" |
| ~ prime | used of the first or originating agent.; "prime mover" |
| ~ original | being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of.; "a truly original approach"; "with original music"; "an original mind" |
| ~ primary | of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary.; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest" |
| adj. | 8. 1st, first | indicating the beginning unit in a series. |
| ~ ordinal | being or denoting a numerical order in a series.; "ordinal numbers"; "held an ordinal rank of seventh" |
| adj. | 9. first, inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden | serving to set in motion.; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage" |
| ~ opening | first or beginning.; "the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene" |
| adj. | 10. beginning, first | serving to begin.; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse" |
| ~ opening | first or beginning.; "the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene" |
| adj. | 11. first, foremost, world-class | ranking above all others.; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate" |
| ~ best | (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities.; "the best film of the year"; "the best solution"; "the best time for planting"; "wore his best suit" |
| adj. | 12. first | highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections.; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn" |
| ~ music | an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner. |
| adv. | 13. first, first of all, first off, firstly, foremost | before anything else.; "first we must consider the garter snake" |
| adv. | 14. first, for the first time | the initial time.; "when Felix first saw a garter snake" |
| adv. | 15. first | before another in time, space, or importance.; "I was here first"; "let's do this job first" |
| adv. | 16. first, foremost | prominently forward.; "he put his best foot foremost" |
| ahead | | |
| adj. | 1. ahead, in the lead, leading | having the leading position or higher score in a contest.; "he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race" |
| ~ up | being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level.; "the anchor is up"; "the sun is up"; "he lay face up"; "he is up by a pawn"; "the market is up"; "the corn is up" |
| adv. | 2. ahead, before, in front | at or in the front.; "I see the lights of a town ahead"; "the road ahead is foggy"; "staring straight ahead"; "we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front"; "with the cross of Jesus marching on before" |
| adv. | 3. ahead, forward | toward the future; forward in time.; "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you" |
| adv. | 4. ahead, forrader, forward, forwards, onward, onwards | in a forward direction.; "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead"; "moved onward into the forest"; "they went slowly forward in the mud" |
| adv. | 5. ahead, beforehand, in advance | ahead of time; in anticipation.; "when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount"; "We like to plan ahead"; "should have made reservations beforehand" |
| adv. | 6. ahead | to a more advanced or advantageous position.; "a young man sure to get ahead"; "pushing talented students ahead" |
| adv. | 7. ahead | to a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future).; "moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday"; "pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday" |
| adv. | 8. ahead, in the lead, out front | leading or ahead in a competition.; "the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising campaign put them out front in sales" |
| former | | |
| n. (linkdef) | 1. former | the first of two or the first mentioned of two.; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today" |
| ~ first, number one | the first or highest in an ordering or series.; "He wanted to be the first" |
| adj. | 2. former | referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several).; "the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one" |
| adj. | 3. erstwhile, former, old, one-time, onetime, quondam, sometime | belonging to some prior time.; "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover" |
| ~ past | earlier than the present time; no longer current.; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" |
| adj. | 4. former, late, previous | (used especially of persons) of the immediate past.; "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House" |
| ~ past | earlier than the present time; no longer current.; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" |
| adj. | 5. early, former, other | belonging to the distant past.; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times" |
| ~ past | earlier than the present time; no longer current.; "time past"; "his youth is past"; "this past Thursday"; "the past year" |
| prime | | |
| n. (quantity) | 1. prime, prime quantity | a number that has no factor but itself and 1. |
| ~ number | a concept of quantity involving zero and units.; "every number has a unique position in the sequence" |
| ~ prime number | an integer that has no integral factors but itself and 1. |
| n. (time) | 2. bloom, blossom, efflorescence, flower, flush, heyday, peak, prime | the period of greatest prosperity or productivity. |
| ~ period, period of time, time period | an amount of time.; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period" |
| ~ golden age | a time period when some activity or skill was at its peak.; "it was the golden age of cinema" |
| n. (time) | 3. prime | the second canonical hour; about 6 a.m.. |
| ~ canonical hour | (Roman Catholic Church) one of seven specified times for prayer. |
| n. (time) | 4. prime, prime of life | the time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest. |
| ~ adulthood, maturity | the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed. |
| v. (change) | 5. prime | insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing.; "prime a cannon"; "prime a mine" |
| ~ gear up, prepare, ready, set, fix, set up | make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc.; "Get the children ready for school!"; "prepare for war"; "I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill" |
| v. (contact) | 6. ground, prime, undercoat | cover with a primer; apply a primer to. |
| ~ paint | apply paint to; coat with paint.; "We painted the rooms yellow" |
| v. (change) | 7. prime | fill with priming liquid.; "prime a car engine" |
| ~ fill, fill up, make full | make full, also in a metaphorical sense.; "fill a container"; "fill the child with pride" |
| adj. | 8. premier, prime | first in rank or degree.; "an architect of premier rank"; "the prime minister" |
| ~ first | preceding all others in time or space or degree.; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training" |
| adj. | 9. prime | used of the first or originating agent.; "prime mover" |
| ~ first | preceding all others in time or space or degree.; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training" |
| adj. | 10. choice, prime, prize, quality, select | of superior grade.; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" |
| ~ superior | of high or superior quality or performance.; "superior wisdom derived from experience"; "superior math students" |
| adj. (pertain) | 11. prime | of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers.; "prime number" |
| ~ math, mathematics, maths | a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement. |
| adj. | 12. meridian, prime | being at the best stage of development.; "our manhood's prime vigor" |
| ~ mature | having reached full natural growth or development.; "a mature cell" |
| go ahead | | |
| v. (communication) | 1. go ahead, plow ahead | proceed (with a plan of action).; "He went ahead with the project" |
| ~ act, move | perform an action, or work out or perform (an action).; "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel" |
| initiate | | |
| n. (person) | 1. beginner, initiate, novice, tiro, tyro | someone new to a field or activity. |
| ~ unskilled person | a person who lacks technical training. |
| ~ abecedarian | a novice learning the rudiments of some subject. |
| ~ apprentice, prentice, learner | works for an expert to learn a trade. |
| ~ cub, greenhorn, rookie | an awkward and inexperienced youth. |
| ~ landlubber, landsman, lubber | an inexperienced sailor; a sailor on the first voyage. |
| ~ fledgeling, fledgling, newbie, newcomer, entrant, freshman, neophyte, starter | any new participant in some activity. |
| ~ tenderfoot | an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living). |
| ~ trainee | someone who is being trained. |
| n. (person) | 2. initiate, learned person, pundit, savant | someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field. |
| ~ polymath | a person of great and varied learning. |
| ~ bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student | a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines. |
| n. (group) | 3. enlightened, initiate | people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity.; "it is very familiar to the initiate" |
| ~ people | (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively.; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience" |
| v. (creation) | 4. initiate, originate, start | bring into being.; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation" |
| ~ lead up, initiate | set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for.; "Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II" |
| ~ create, make | make or cause to be or to become.; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor" |
| ~ set | apply or start.; "set fire to a building" |
| ~ date back, date from, go back | belong to an earlier time.; "This story dates back 200 years" |
| v. (creation) | 5. initiate, pioneer | take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of.; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants" |
| ~ strike up | begin.; "strike up a conversation"; "strike up a friendship" |
| ~ innovate, introduce | bring something new to an environment.; "A new word processor was introduced" |
| ~ activate, actuate, set off, spark, spark off, touch off, trigger, trigger off, trip | put in motion or move to act.; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" |
| ~ cause, do, make | give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally.; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" |
| ~ institute, establish, found, plant, constitute | set up or lay the groundwork for.; "establish a new department" |
| ~ stage, arrange | plan, organize, and carry out (an event).; "the neighboring tribe staged an invasion" |
| ~ mount | put up or launch.; "mount a campaign against pornography" |
| ~ undertake, attempt, set about | enter upon an activity or enterprise. |
| ~ machinate, devise, prepare, organise, organize, get up | arrange by systematic planning and united effort.; "machinate a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over the director's office" |
| v. (social) | 6. induct, initiate | accept people into an exclusive society or group, usually with some rite.; "African men are initiated when they reach puberty" |
| ~ let in, admit, include | allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of.; "admit someone to the profession"; "She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar" |
| v. (communication) | 7. broach, initiate | bring up a topic for discussion. |
| ~ hash out, talk over, discuss | speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion.; "We discussed our household budget" |
| ~ deal, plow, handle, treat, cover, address | act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression.; "This book deals with incest"; "The course covered all of Western Civilization"; "The new book treats the history of China" |
| v. (change) | 8. initiate, lead up | set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for.; "Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II" |
| ~ initiate, originate, start | bring into being.; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation" |
| precede | | |
| v. (stative) | 1. antecede, antedate, forego, forgo, precede, predate | be earlier in time; go back further.; "Stone tools precede bronze tools" |
| v. (stative) | 2. precede, predate | come before.; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify" |
| ~ lie | be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position. |
| v. (social) | 3. come before, precede | be the predecessor of.; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands" |
| v. (motion) | 4. lead, precede | move ahead (of others) in time or space. |
| ~ go, locomote, move, travel | change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically.; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" |
| ~ head, lead | travel in front of; go in advance of others.; "The procession was headed by John" |
| v. (communication) | 5. introduce, precede, preface, premise | furnish with a preface or introduction.; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution" |
| ~ preamble | make a preliminary introduction, usually to a formal document. |
| ~ prologise, prologize, prologuize | write or speak a prologue. |
| ~ say, state, tell | express in words.; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name" |
Recent comments
2 weeks 4 days ago
6 weeks 5 days ago
8 weeks 1 day ago
23 weeks 3 days ago
23 weeks 3 days ago
23 weeks 3 days ago
24 weeks 1 day ago
28 weeks 2 days ago
29 weeks 1 day ago
30 weeks 11 hours ago