Definitions for Prior
ˈpraɪ ərPri·or

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prioradjective

   the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot

2. anterior, prior(a)adjective

   earlier in time

Wiktionary(3.44 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. priornoun

   A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.

2. priornoun

   A previous criminal offense on someone's record.

3. priornoun

   In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution.

4. prioradverb

   Previously.

   The doctor had known three months prior.

5. prioradjective

   Of that which comes before, in advance.

   I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

6. prioradjective

   former, previous

   His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

7. Etymology: From prior

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. PRIORadjective

   Former; being before something else; antecedent; anterior.

   Etymology: prior, Lat.

   Whenever tempted to do or approve any thing contrary to the duties we are enjoined, let us reflect that we have a prior and superior obligation to the commands of Christ. John Rogers.

2. Priornoun

   Etymology: prieur, Fr.

   1. The head of a convent of monks, inferior in dignity to an abbot.

   Neither she, nor any other, besides the prior of the convent, knew any thing of his name. Joseph Addison, Spectator.

   2.Prior is such a person, as, in some churches, presides over others in the same churches. John Ayliffe Parergon.

Webster Dictionary(3.83 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prioradjective

   preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage

2. Prioradjective

   the superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity

3. Etymology: [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Prior

   Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for "earlier, first", with several notable uses.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prior

   prī′or, adj. former: previous: coming before in time.—n. the head of a priory: (in Italy) formerly a chief magistrate:—fem. Prī′oress.—ns. Prī′orāte, Prī′orship, the government or office of a prior: the time during which a prior is in office; Prior′ity, state of being prior or first in time, place, or rank: preference; Prī′ory, a convent of either sex, under a prior or prioress, and next in rank below an abbey. [L. prior, former, comp. from pro-, in front.]

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Prior' in Adjectives Frequency: #889

How to pronounce Prior?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Prior in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Prior in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Prior in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Prior in a Sentence

1. Matt Smith:

   A drop in refinery utilization helped to offset lower imports, leading to a solid build to crude inventories, despite lower refinery runs, gasoline stocks still showed a build, with throughput edging lower on the prior week.

2. Donald Trump on Wednesday:

   If you go with what Hillary is saying, in the ninth month you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby, now, you can say that that's okay, and Hillary can say that that's okay, but it's not okay with me.

3. Mark Carney:

   Evidence is mixed, and the baseline for comparison should not be the unsustainable excess liquidity that existed prior to the crisis.

4. Mark Esper:

   We learned that several days prior, Secretary Spencer had proposed a deal whereby if the President allowed the Navy to handle the case, he would guarantee that Eddie Gallagher would be restored to rank, allowed to retain his Trident and permitted to retire.

5. Harry Tchilinguirian:

   King Salman was already involved in policy making prior to the passing of the king, so from that perspective, if he helped set the agenda, he will maintain that agenda.

Popularity rank by frequency of use