What is the meaning of preceding?

verb

• Be earlier in time; go back further.
  • usage: "Stone tools precede bronze tools"
  • synonyms: predate, precede, forego, forgo, antecede, antedate
• Come before.
  • usage: "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify"
  • synonyms: precede, predate
• Be the predecessor of.
  • usage: "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands"
  • synonyms: precede, come before
• Move ahead (of others) in time or space.
  • synonyms: precede, lead
• Furnish with a preface or introduction.
  • usage: "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution"
  • synonyms: precede, preface, premise, introduce

adjective

• Existing or coming before.
• Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office.
  • usage: "a retiring member of the board"
  • synonyms: past, retiring