predates
Exists earlier than
Predates means to exist or occur before something else in time: The temple predates the Roman conquest by several centuries.
It can also mean to put an earlier date on a document than when it was actually written—the opposite of postdate: She predated the check to make it appear she'd paid on time.
Less commonly, predates is the verb form of predate meaning to prey upon, though this usage is rare.
Comes before in time
- foregoVoluntarily give up
- precedeCome or go first
- preexistsWas already present
- foreshadowIndicate future events
herald · prelude · outpace · earlier · prior · before · antecedent · forerunner
Point of creation
- beginningInitial stage of something
- inceptionFounding moment
- dawnDay's first glow
- emergenceComing into existence
birth · foundation · advent · nascent · outset · conception · creation · infancy
Preserved ancient organism traces
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
- trilobitesExtinct marine arthropods
- mammothsExtinct woolly elephants
- PangeaPrehistoric unified landmass
Gondwana · cave paintings · petroglyphs · Stonehenge · pyramids · hieroglyphics · Paleolithic · Neolithic
antecedes
Comes before in time
foreshadow · herald · prelude · outpace · earlier · prior · before · antecedent · forerunner · predecessor
genesis
Point of creation
emergence · birth · foundation · advent · nascent · outset · conception · creation · infancy · origination
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
- trilobitesExtinct marine arthropods
- mammothsExtinct woolly elephants
Pangea · Gondwana · cave paintings · petroglyphs · Stonehenge · pyramids · hieroglyphics · Paleolithic · Neolithic · Mesolithic
courtship
Seeking another's romantic favor
suitor · courting · flowers · dinner · seduction · flirtation · advances · pursuit · charm · wining and dining
predatespostdates
Follows in time
follows · succeeds · comes after · supersedes · trails
- natural predatorsAnimals that inherently hunt others
- sexual predatorOne who exploits others
- apex predatorsDominant hunters, no natural enemies
- predatory lendingExploitative loan terms
- predatory fishCarnivore of the waters
- predator and prey
predator, predatory, predate, predators, predation, predated, predating