Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
antecedent
Noun
/ˌæn.tɪˈsiː.dənt/

Definition
Something that comes before something else, often in a sequence.

Examples
- The antecedent of the pronoun ‘he’ in the sentence is ‘John.’
- Many factors are considered antecedents to the company’s success.
- In mathematics, the antecedent is the first part of a conditional statement.

Meaning
In grammar, an antecedent is the noun to which a pronoun refers. In general terms, it refers to any event or thing that precedes another.

Synonyms
- Predecessor
- Forerunner
- Preceding element