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Definition of anterior

anterior

/ænˈtɪr.i.ɚ/
an · te · ri · or
Adverb:anteriorly
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anterior Lexical Profile

anterior Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Nearer the front, especially situated in the front of the body or nearer to the head.

Example

"The physical therapist examined the patient's knee for signs of an anterior cruciate ligament injury."

2

Coming before in time; earlier or prior.

Example

"The historian discovered several manuscripts that were anterior to the officially recognized founding of the city."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for anterior

• Nearby Words

antemortem
antenatal
antenna
anterior
anteroom
anthem
anthemic

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from French antérieur or directly from Latin anterior ('more to the front, earlier'), the comparative form of ante ('before, in front of').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anterior. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anterior
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