1.
prior to; before; in advance of
A formal expression indicating that one action or event occurs before another. Used to set temporal context, especially for preparatory actions taken before a main event.
会議に先立って資料を配った。
I distributed materials prior to the meeting.
開会に先立ち、議長が挨拶をした。
Before the opening, the chairperson gave a greeting.
新製品の発売に先立って、記者会見が行われた。
A press conference was held prior to the new product launch.
A formal expression meaning "prior to" or "before," typically used in written language, speeches, and business settings. Composed of the particle に, the verb 先立つ (to precede), in its te-form.
FORMS:
- に先立って: te-form — most common
- に先立ち: conjunctive form — slightly more formal
- に先立つ + noun: attributive form (e.g., 出発に先立つ準備)
USAGE:
The expression takes a noun before に, indicating the main event. The clause after に先立って describes the preparatory action. Often used in news reports, formal announcements, and ceremony contexts.
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 前に: before — more casual and general
- に先駆けて: ahead of others, pioneering — implies being the first to do something
- に際して: on the occasion of — emphasizes the event itself rather than temporal sequence