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prior to that
/ˈpraɪər tu ðæt/
before that time
She had worked in marketing prior to that.
She had worked in marketing before that time.
formal
before a specific time or event mentioned earlier
Prior to that incident, the company had no safety violations.
Before that incident occurred, the company had no safety violations.
He completed his degree prior to moving abroad.
He finished his studies before relocating internationally.
Common in academic, legal, and business writing. More formal than 'before that'.
Collocations
prior to arrivalbefore arrivingprior to the eventbefore the event
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'prior to that' in formal writing (e.g., reports, academic papers). In casual speech, prefer 'before that'.
Gold Rule
Clarity in Reference
Always ensure 'that' clearly refers to a previously mentioned time/event to avoid ambiguity.
Word Origin
From Latin 'prior' (earlier) + 'to' (preposition) + 'that' (demonstrative pronoun). The phrase entered English usage in the 19th century, evolving from legal and formal registers.
Usage Notes
Used to establish chronological order in narratives or reports. Avoid redundancy by ensuring 'that' clearly refers to a previously mentioned time/event.
Word Breakdown
prior
earlier in time
rootto
preposition indicating relationship
prepositionthat
demonstrative pronoun referring to a specific time/event
pronounEnglish Dictionary