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C1

Precede vs Proceed

Precede = come before (a preview precedes the film). Proceed = continue or move forward (proceed to the next step).

The one-line answer

Precede = come before (a preview precedes the film). Proceed = continue or move forward (proceed to the next step).

precede

verb

to happen or come before something in time or order

  • The introduction precedes the first chapter.
  • A warning precedes the film.
  • The 1920s preceded the Great Depression.

proceed

verb

to continue or go forward, often after a pause

  • You may proceed to the next section.
  • The project proceeded smoothly.
  • We proceeded with caution.

Memory trick

Pre-cede: 'pre' means before — it comes before. Pro-ceed: 'pro' means forward — it moves forward. If it continues, proceed; if it comes first, precede.

Precede vs Proceed: Test yourself

Question 1 of 2

The lecture ___ the practical session.