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Precede or Proceed?
Precede or Proceed?
What is the difference between "precede" and "proceed"?- "To precede" means "to come before" (usually in time but sometimes in rank).
- A gong will mark the five-minute warning that precedes the call to dinner.
- When they are equivalent ranks, the Navy officers precede the Army officers.
- "To proceed" means "to go forwards" or "to continue."
- The rain has stopped. Let's proceed.
- "Proceeds" means "profits."
- We shall give the proceeds to charity.


More about "Precede" and "Proceed"
The words "precede" and "proceed" sound quite similar, and writers some sometimes confuse them. However, their meanings are quite different.Precede
The verb "to precede" means "to come before" (usually in time).Example sentences with "precede":
- King George VI preceded Queen Elizabeth II.
- The professor will precede the first lecture with his opening remarks.
- The flight simulator is unable to replicate the airframe shudder that precedes the stall.
"Precede" Can Mean Outrank
Occasionally, "precede" can mean to come before in rank. For example:- Within the noble ranks, each peer is graded according to the date of receiving the peerage, but peers of England (prior to 1707) precede peers of Scotland (prior to 1707).
Proceed
The verb "to proceed" means "to go forwards" or "to continue." The noun "proceeds" (always in the plural) means "the profit arising from an event or sale."Example sentences with "proceed" and "proceeds":
- As soon as security has removed the protesters, I shall proceed.
- We are proceeding at pace.
- Have you spent the proceeds from the disco already?
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?