precede

be earlier in time; go back further

• “Stone tools precede bronze tools”

come before

• “Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify”

be the predecessor of

• “Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan”

move ahead (of others) in time or space

furnish with a preface or introduction

• “She always precedes her lectures with a joke”
• “He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution”