1. (v. t.) To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything.
2. (v. t.) To go before in place, rank, or importance.
3. (v. t.) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object.
Thesaurus Entries
announce, antecede, antedate, anticipate, be before, be early, be the bellwether, beacon, blaze the trail, break ground, break the ice, break the trail, come before, come first, create, forerun, foreshadow, front, get ahead of, get before, go ahead of, go before, go in advance, guide, harbinger, have priority, have the start, head, head the line, head the table, head up, herald, initiate, introduce, invent, kick off, lap, lead, lead off, lead the dance, lead the way, light the way, originate, outrank, outstrip, pace, pioneer, play first fiddle, precurse, predate, preexist, presage, proclaim, rank, rank first, rank out, rate, set the pace, spearhead, stand first, star, take precedence, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge, usher, usher in
