verb
- existed before something else in time
Usage: past tense of preexist
Examples
- The ancient ruins preexisted the modern city by thousands of years.
- Many believe the soul preexisted the body.
- The company’s problems preexisted the new management team.
- These traditions preexisted written history.
- The building preexisted the current zoning laws.
- Her reputation preexisted her arrival at the school.