The meaning of PRIOR is earlier in time or order. How to use prior in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Prior.

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

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

Usage Note: Though prior usually modifies a noun that comes after it, as in prior approval, it sometimes modifies a noun for a unit of time which precedes it, as in five years prior.

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.

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

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun prior, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

An informative prior expresses specific, definite information about a variable. An example is a prior distribution for the temperature at noon tomorrow. A reasonable approach is to make the …

Prior definition: Preceding in time or order.

Use the adjective prior for things that exist earlier in time or that happen first in time or order.