[] happening or existing before sth else or before a particular time在先的；在前的；较早的◆Sales grew 8% over the prior year to $20.3 bn.销量比前一年增长了 8%，达到 203 亿元。◆IBM said it had no prior knowledge of the matter.IBM 称事先对此事一无所知。⨁prior approval / knowledge / notice事先批准／知晓／通知⨁the prior month / quarter / week / year上月；上个季度；上周；去年⨁a prior arrangement / engagement事先安排；有约在先prior to () before sth在前面的◆during the week prior to the meeting在开会前的一周之内◆Prior to joining Kmart, East worked for the family firm.在加入凯马特之前，伊斯特曾为家族企业工作。