antecedents Definition
- 1a person's ancestors or family and social background
- 2something that existed before and may have influenced or caused something else
Using antecedents: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "antecedents" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Her antecedents were all doctors and lawyers.
Example
The country's economic problems have deep antecedents in its colonial past.
Example
The antecedents of the conflict can be traced back to a dispute over land ownership.
antecedents Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for antecedents
- lineage
- heritage
- background
- history
- ancestry
Phrases with antecedents
be entirely new or original, without any historical or cultural precedent
Example
The artist's work was so innovative that it seemed to have no antecedents.
a boundary line established before an area is populated, often based on physical features like mountains or rivers
Example
The antecedent boundary between the US and Canada follows the 49th parallel.
a cause that precedes and contributes to an effect or outcome
Example
The antecedent cause of the accident was a mechanical failure in the vehicle's braking system.
Origins of antecedents
from Latin 'ante-' meaning 'before' and 'cedere' meaning 'go'
Summary: antecedents in Brief
'Antecedents' [ˌæntəˈsiːdənts] refer to a person's ancestors or family and social background, or something that existed before and may have influenced or caused something else. It is often used in phrases like 'her antecedents were all doctors and lawyers' and 'the antecedents of the conflict can be traced back to a dispute over land ownership.' 'Antecedents' extends into phrases like 'have no antecedents,' denoting something entirely new or original, and 'antecedent cause,' referring to a cause that precedes and contributes to an effect or outcome.
