predate

Everyday

1. To exist or happen earlier than something else: «Dinosaurs predate humans by millions of years.» tree →
2. To write a date on a document that is earlier than the real day (also «backdate»). tree →
3. (science, of animals) To hunt and eat other animals as prey (a related word: predator). tree →

In the lessons

In history and science timelines it means «come before». In nature lessons «predate on» means an animal hunts others. It is the opposite of «postdate». Phrases: «predate by», «long predate», «predate on».

Examples

• Stonehenge predates the pyramids of Giza in some of its parts. tree →
• The oak tree predates every house in our street. tree →
• Fossils show that sharks predate dinosaurs. tree →
• Owls predate on mice and voles. tree →
• Some stories of King Arthur predate the castles they mention. tree →
• Dad predated the form by mistake, so he had to fill in a new one. tree →

Note

Opposite: postdate. Also spelled «pre-date». Do not confuse with «predator» (an animal that hunts). On a timeline, what predates something sits further to the left (earlier). The sense «to hunt» is used mainly by scientists.