Here are some examples:
* "The preceding paragraph explained the theory." The paragraph mentioned before the current one explained the theory.
* "The preceding year was a difficult one for the company." The year before the current one was difficult for the company.
* "The preceding chapters covered basic grammar rules." The chapters before the current one covered basic grammar rules.
You can also use "preceding" to describe something that comes before something else in a sequence or list. For example:
* "The preceding number on the list was 12." The number before the current one was 12.
* "The preceding step in the process is to mix the ingredients." The step before the current one is to mix the ingredients.
In short, "preceding" refers to what came before.