Precede means come before: a safety briefing will precede the session. Proceed means continue or move on: proceed with the order, proceed to the exit. To remember: pre- means before, as in preview.
precede or proceed — can you pick the right one?
Pick a word and write a sentence — we'll check right away that it fits the meaning and explain any mistakes.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
A precedes B; proceed with a plan; proceed to a place; proceed to do something
- A short safety briefing will precede the practical session.
- Once the documents are signed, we can proceed with the order.
- Visitors should proceed to the reception desk on the first floor.
What changed
First versionPlease precede to the next room when your number is called.
RevisionPlease proceed to the next room when your number is called.
The words differ by two letters, so people write whichever looks more familiar. But here people are being asked to move on, and go forward is proceed: proceed to the next room.
Precede takes its object directly: the lecture was preceded by a welcome, so the welcome came first. Proceed needs a preposition: proceed with the plan, proceed to the gate. At airports you hear: Please proceed to gate 12.
Your turn
A welcome message will ___ the first lecture: it will come before it.
Show the answer
precede — The welcome comes before the lecture, so it's precede. Proceed means continue or move on.
Describe what happens before a concert, a lesson or a meeting starts. Use precede.
A ten-minute equipment check will precede the outdoor recording session.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.