anterior
Positioned at or toward the front of the body or a structure. It can also refer to something occurring earlier in time or sequence, though this usage is more formal.
Examples
3 of 5The anterior part of the house faces the main street.
The front part of the house faces the main street.
The surgeon identified a small tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.
The surgeon identified a small tear in the ligament located at the front of the knee.
Check the anterior pages of the manual for the setup guide.
Check the earlier pages of the manual for the setup guide.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember that 'Anterior' starts with 'A', just like 'Ahead'. It refers to things that are in front or happen before.
Quick Quiz
The ______ surface of the heart is the part facing the ribcage.
Correct!
The correct answer is: anterior
Examples
The anterior part of the house faces the main street.
everydayThe front part of the house faces the main street.
The surgeon identified a small tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.
formalThe surgeon identified a small tear in the ligament located at the front of the knee.
Check the anterior pages of the manual for the setup guide.
informalCheck the earlier pages of the manual for the setup guide.
The fossil's anterior teeth suggest a diet of tough vegetation.
academicThe front teeth of the fossil suggest a diet of tough vegetation.
Events anterior to the merger are not covered by this specific contract clause.
businessEvents occurring before the merger are not covered by this specific contract clause.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
anterior to
located before or in front of something else
anterior segment
the front part of a larger anatomical structure
anterior wall
the front surface of a hollow organ
Often Confused With
Prior is used almost exclusively for time, whereas anterior is more commonly used for physical position in anatomy.
Posterior is the direct opposite, meaning toward the back or occurring later.
Usage Notes
Anterior is most frequently used in medical, biological, and technical contexts. In everyday conversation, 'front' or 'previous' is usually preferred.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'anterior' to describe the front of simple objects like a car or a phone, where 'front' is more natural. Save 'anterior' for technical or anatomical descriptions.
Memory Tip
Remember that 'Anterior' starts with 'A', just like 'Ahead'. It refers to things that are in front or happen before.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'anterior', which is the comparative form of 'ante' meaning 'before'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The word is widely known in the US and UK due to the prevalence of 'ACL' (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries in popular sports like football and soccer.
Quick Quiz
The ______ surface of the heart is the part facing the ribcage.
Correct!
The correct answer is: anterior
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