noun

antecedent

an-ti-SEE-duhnt

Antecedent (noun) means In grammar, the word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to. Example: “In 'Maya lost her keys', the antecedent of 'her' is Maya.”

noun

technical In grammar, the word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to.

"In 'Maya lost her keys', the antecedent of 'her' is Maya."

"The sentence is confusing because the pronoun has no clear antecedent."

formal A thing or event that came before something else and helped lead to it.

"Historians trace the antecedents of the revolt to the famine of the previous decade."

"The design has clear antecedents in 1970s Italian furniture."

adjective

formal Coming before something in time or order.

"No antecedent agreement covered this situation."

How to use antecedent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe thing that came before, or the word a pronoun points back to.

When to use it

Technical in grammar and logic; formal elsewhere.

Memory tip

In an if-then statement, the 'if' part is called the antecedent and the 'then' part the consequent.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

precedent → ancestor → antecede →

Common pairings

clear antecedent pronoun antecedent historical antecedents antecedent conditions

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

In 'Maya lost her keys', the _____ of 'her' is Maya.

Etymology

From Latin antecedere 'to go before', from ante- 'before' and cedere 'to go'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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forerunner precursor predecessor origin prior previous preceding earlier

Antonyms

consequence successor subsequent later

Related words

before following later line ago cause past former

Rhymes for antecedent

decedent precedent

See all rhymes for antecedent →

Frequently asked questions

What is an antecedent in grammar?

It is the noun or noun phrase that a pronoun stands in for. In 'the dog wagged its tail', 'the dog' is the antecedent of 'its'. Good writing keeps the antecedent close enough and clear enough that no reader has to guess.

What is the difference between antecedent and precedent?

An antecedent is simply something that came earlier. A precedent is an earlier case or action that is treated as a model or authority for what to do now, which is why the word dominates in law.

What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?

It is the rule that a pronoun should match its antecedent in number and, where relevant, gender. 'Each student brought their book' is now widely accepted, but older style guides would insist on 'his or her book'.

What is the meaning of antecedent?

"antecedent" (noun) means in grammar, the word or phrase that a pronoun refers back to.

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before following later line ago cause past former