Anterior — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /an-ˈtir-ē-ər/ an·te·ri·or

Meaning & Definition of Anterior

Anterior (adjective)

  1. situated before or toward the front
  2. situated near or toward the head or part most nearly corresponding to a head
  3. coming before in time or development

Anterior (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being at or in the forward part or surface of something

    "the anterior chamber of the eye is bounded in front by the cornea"

    similar: fore, forward, front, frontal, frontward
    related: ventral
    opposite: aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear, rearward
    near: dorsal

  2. going before another in time or order

    "fossils from an anterior geologic age"

    similar: antecedent, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, previous, prior
    related: advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary, erstwhile, whilom
    opposite: after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding
    near: advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Anterior

The most common words with a similar meaning to Anterior:

fore, forward, front, frontal, frontward, antecedent, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, previous, prior

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Anterior

Words with the opposite meaning of Anterior:

aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear, rearward, ensuing, following, later, subsequent, succeeding

Related Words for Anterior

ventral, advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary, erstwhile, whilom

Near Antonyms of Anterior

dorsal, advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Word Forms of Anterior

Derived words: anteriorly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Anterior

Latin, comparative of ante before ante-

First known use: 1541

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Anterior

Words & Phrases Containing Anterior

anterior chamber, anterior cruciate ligament

Frequently Asked Questions about Anterior

What does "Anterior" mean?

"Anterior" means situated before or toward the front. As an adjective, it is defined as: situated before or toward the front. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Anterior"?

Other words for "Anterior" include fore, forward, front, frontal, frontward, antecedent, foregoing and former. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Anterior" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Anterior"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Anterior". Common alternatives include fore, forward, front, frontal, frontward, antecedent, foregoing, former, precedent and preceding.

What is the opposite of "Anterior"?

Antonyms of "Anterior" include aft, after, hind, hinder, hindmost, posterior, rear and rearward. Near antonyms include dorsal, advanced, late and closing.

How do you use "Anterior" in a sentence?

Examples of "Anterior" in a sentence: "the anterior chamber of the eye is bounded in front by the cornea"; "fossils from an anterior geologic age".

Is "Anterior" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Anterior" is an adjective.

Is "Anterior" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Anterior" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Anterior"?

"Anterior" is pronounced /an-ˈtir-ē-ər/ and divided into syllables as an·te·ri·or.