Precedes (verb)
* To come before in time or order: This is the most general definition and is often used in contexts like "The storm preceded the arrival of the ship."
* To go before in rank or importance: This definition is often used in hierarchical settings, like "The vice president precedes the president in the line of succession."
* To introduce or usher in: This definition implies a causal or initiating relationship, like "The announcement of the new policy preceded a period of uncertainty."
* To be situated in front of or ahead of: This definition refers to physical location, like "The porch precedes the front door."
Preceding (adjective)
* Coming before in time or order: This is used to describe something that happens earlier, like "The preceding chapter discussed the history of the event."
Examples:
* The preceding paragraph explained the problem.
* The rain preceded the thunderstorm.
* The CEO precedes the board members in the company hierarchy.
* The announcement preceded a wave of excitement.
It's important to note that the specific meaning of "precedes" will depend on the context in which it is used.