anterior

[ an-teer-ee-er ]

adjective

1. situated before or at the front of; fore ( posterior ).
2. going before in time or sequence; preceding; earlier:

   events anterior to the outbreak of war.

3. Linguistics. (in distinctive feature analysis) articulated in the region extending from the alveolar ridge to the lips; alveolar, dental, or labial.
4. (in animals and embryos) pertaining to or toward the head or forward end of the body.
5. (in humans) pertaining to or toward the front plane of the body, equivalent to the ventral surface of quadrupeds.
6. Botany. on the front side and away from the main axis, as the lower lip of a flower.

anterior

/ ænˌtɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ; ænˈtɪərɪə /

adjective

1. situated at or towards the front
2. earlier in time
3. zoology of or near the head end
4. botany (of part of a flower or leaf) situated farthest away from the main stem

Derived Forms

• anteriority, noun

Other Words From

• an·te·ri·or·i·ty [an-teer-ee-, awr, -i-tee, -, or, -], noun
• an·teri·or·ly adverb
• nonan·teri·or adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anterior¹

1535–45; < Latin, comparative of ante before, formed on model of posterior

Word History and Origins

Origin of anterior¹

C17: from Latin, comparative of ante before

Example Sentences

The team focused on two main pathways, the M2-projecting, which is connected to the secondary motor cortex, and the AD-projecting, which is connected to the anterior thalamus.

From Science Daily

Returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury is Leia Edwards.

From Los Angeles Times

The teenager can operate excellently at left or right-back and has also been used in a defensive midfield role after Rodri sustained a season-ending injury when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

From BBC

But a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Prongos’ third game ended his high school career and scared off many recruiters who had been intrigued by his potential.

From Los Angeles Times

Brain regions such as the anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex integrate many sources of information – essential for being able to form a mixed emotion.

From Salon