The meaning of PRE- is earlier than : prior to : before. How to use pre- in a sentence.

Deep tech -- innovation based on major scientific or engineering advances such as artificial intelligence, biotech and quantum computing -- returned in 2025 to its pre-2021 levels, according to the IIA.

before (a time or an event): precooked food a preexisting condition (Definition of pre- from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Pre- is used to form words that indicate that something takes place before a particular date, period, or event. ...his pre-war job. ...pre-1971 cars. ...life in pre-industrial England.

Feb 21, 2026 · Before; earlier in time; beforehand. This prefix is usually prefixed to words without using a hyphen (for example, prefix, predate). A hyphen is used in the following cases:

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix pre-, which means “before,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: pre dict, pre vent, and pre fix!

before in time, rank, order, position, etc: predate; pre-eminent; premeditation; prefrontal; preschool.

Pre- definition: Anterior; in front of.

pre- meaning, definition, what is pre-: before someone or something: Learn more.

pre-, prefix meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary