From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpriorpri‧or1 /ˈpraɪə $ praɪr/ ●●○ W3 AWL adjective 1 BUSY/NOT AVAILABLEexisting or arranged before something else or before the present situation SYN previous You do not need any prior knowledge of the subject. Changes may not be made without the prior approval of the council. Vegetarian meals are provided by prior agreement. Some prior experience with the software is needed.2 → prior warning/notice3 → prior to something4 → prior claimCOLLOCATIONSnounsprior knowledgeHe denied that he had prior knowledge of the robbery.prior approval/consent/permissionA sale of the factory will need the prior approval of shareholders.prior agreementWe will not disclose this information without your prior agreement.prior experienceHe had no prior experience of teaching.a prior engagement formal (=an event that you have already promised to attend)The prime minister was unable to attend owing to a prior engagement.phrasesby prior arrangementVisitors can tour the burial tombs by prior arrangement.
Examples from the Corpus
prior• The databases often contain Social Security numbers, dates of birth and current and prior addresses.• Indeed, some insurance companies have tried to do this by requiring prior approval for treatment.• Pets are permitted only by prior arrangement with the management.• Vegetarian meals are provided by prior arrangement.• A Class 4 transaction will normally require the prior consent of the company in a general meeting.• The tenant must get the prior consent of the landlord before doing any redecorating in the flat.• Johnson had two prior convictions for residential burglaries and a history of petty crimes.• Most applicants had no prior experience of working with children.• The phone company is required to give you prior notice before disconnecting your service.• Although Clinton won New Jersey in 1992, Republicans had carried the state in the six prior presidential elections.• The airline says that some flights may be cancelled without prior warning.priorprior2 noun [countable] 1 RRCthe man in charge of a priory2 RRCthe priest next in rank to the person in charge of an abbey3 informal a previous occasion when someone was found guilty of a crime two priors for homicideExamples from the Corpus
prior• Ideally, eligibility for membership and the verification thereof should have been established prior to the process of resettlement commencing.• After education at Oxford, he became the greatest of all the priors at Bridlington.From Longman Business Dictionarypriorpri‧or /ˈpraɪəpraɪr/ adjective [only before a noun] coming before something is finally decided, agreed etcMost firms requireprior approval of analysts’ personal trades before selling stock to them.Sales are expected to be $62 million, up slightly from $60 million in the prior year.prior toThose calculations are based on AT&T’s average stock price prior to a shareholder meeting.Origin prior1 (1700-1800) Latin “earlier, older, higher in rank”, from Latin pri “before” prior2 1. (1900-2000) → PRIOR12. (1000-1100) Medieval Latin Latin (adjective); → PRIOR1 