PRIOR definition: 1. existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time: 2. before a…. Learn more.

previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

PRIOR definition: preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous. See examples of prior used in a sentence.

A prior claim or duty is more important than other claims or duties and needs to be dealt with first. The firm I wanted to use had prior commitments.

The earliest known use of the word prior is in the early 1600s. OED's earliest evidence for prior is from 1607, in the writing of Barnabe Barnes, poet and playwright.

Prior definition: Preceding in time or order.

PRIOR meaning: 1 : existing earlier in time previous; 2 : more important than something else because it came first

Definition of prior adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English pri‧or1 /ˈpraɪə $ praɪr/ W3 AWL adjective 1 existing or arranged before something else or before the present situation SYN previous You do not need …

PRIOR meaning: 1. existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time: 2. before a…. Learn more.