predate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "predate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something existed or occurred before another event or thing in time. Example: "The ancient ruins predates the modern city by several centuries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, it bends simplistic laws of time and space by swallowing even things that theoretically predate it.

The Guardian - Sport

The reports slyly question his comments that personally written blog posts predate his time as minster.

The Guardian - Opinion

The aim of the £1bn ($1.58bn) mission is to explore the mysteries of comets, which are made from materials that predate the solar system.

The Guardian

Over the last three years, Cooper has paid more than $1m to Norcross's insurance brokerage and more than $2m to a law firm partially owned by his brother Philip, though the hospital's financial statements said those relationships predate George Norcross's tenure on its board.

The Guardian

Many issues predate the outbreak.

The Guardian

But his Harvard ties predate this gift: he received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1989 and now sits on the university's board of advisers.

The Economist

"Good sir, please help me save my family fortune from rapacious government officials... ...... Internet fraud is far from unique to Nigeria but the west African nation excels at these particular swindles, which predate the internet but have been transformed by it.

The Economist

These studies conclude that sediba did in fact predate Homo erectus and, moreover, that parts of its anatomy are surprisingly similar to modern man.In this section An array of errors You look familiar Say what?

The Economist

Johnson tends to be sharper with those who lay private claim to everyday English words that long predate their product.

The Economist

But it has cashed in royally on the shift to mobile, even though its origins long predate the mobile craze.

The Economist

In 2008, according to the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the state's overall sales of wood and paper products were roughly $710m, down from about $1.2bn in 2005.Tom Power, an economist at the University of Montana, explains that the industry's problems predate the recession.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "predate", ensure the context clearly establishes the chronological relationship between the two subjects being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "predate" to describe relationships that are not time-based. For example, don't say 'His influence predates her', but rather 'His influence preceded hers' if you mean influence in a hierarchy, not in time.

Linguistic Context

The verb "predate" functions to establish a temporal relationship, indicating that one thing existed or occurred before another. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary role is to place events or objects in a chronological order, highlighting which came first. The examples from Ludwig illustrate this clearly across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "predate" is a versatile verb used to indicate that something existed or occurred before something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal writing. The examples provided showcase its application in establishing chronological relationships and providing historical context. While synonyms like "antedate" exist, "predate" offers a straightforward way to convey temporal order. Avoid using it in non-temporal contexts to maintain clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

antedate

A more formal synonym, often used in academic or legal contexts.

precede

Indicates coming before in time, order, or importance, sometimes without implying direct causation.

come before

A simpler, more direct way to express the same concept.

exist before

Emphasizes the state of existence prior to another event or entity.

date back to

Specifies the origin or beginning point in time.

originate before

Highlights the point of origin occurring earlier.

be earlier than

A straightforward comparison of temporal order.

have origins before

Focuses on the roots or beginnings existing at an earlier time.

lay the groundwork for

Implies an earlier event prepared the way for a later one.

pave the way for

Similar to 'lay the groundwork', suggesting a preparatory action.

FAQs

How do I use "predate" in a sentence?

Use "predate" to indicate that something existed or occurred earlier in time than something else. For example, "The fossil record shows that dinosaurs "predate" humans by millions of years."

What's a synonym for "predate"?

A common synonym for "predate" is "antedate". It carries a similar meaning of occurring or existing before something else, often in a formal context.

What is the difference between "predate" and "postdate"?

"Predate" means to occur or exist before a certain time, while "postdate" means to assign a date later than the actual date. They are antonyms indicating opposite temporal relationships.

Is it correct to say something "predates to" a certain period?

No, the correct usage is "predate" without the preposition "to". For example, "The artifact "predates" the Roman Empire" is correct.