B2 adjective Formal

anterior

/ænˈtɪəriər/

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 5
1

The anterior part of the house faces the main street.

The front part of the house faces the main street.

2

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.

3

Check the anterior pages of the manual for the setup guide.

Check the earlier pages of the manual for the setup guide.

Word Family

Noun
anteriority
Adverb
anteriorly
Adjective
anterior
Related
front
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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

1

The anterior part of the house faces the main street.

everyday

The front part of the house faces the main street.

2

The surgeon identified a small tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.

formal

The surgeon identified a small tear in the ligament located at the front of the knee.

3

Check the anterior pages of the manual for the setup guide.

informal

Check the earlier pages of the manual for the setup guide.

4

The fossil's anterior teeth suggest a diet of tough vegetation.

academic

The front teeth of the fossil suggest a diet of tough vegetation.

5

Events anterior to the merger are not covered by this specific contract clause.

business

Events occurring before the merger are not covered by this specific contract clause.

Word Family

Noun
anteriority
Adverb
anteriorly
Adjective
anterior
Related
front

Common Collocations

anterior view a view from the front
anterior cruciate ligament a key ligament in the knee (ACL)
anterior chamber the front section of the eye
anterior portion the front part or section
anterior lobe the front part of an organ, like the brain or pituitary gland

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

anterior vs prior

Prior is used almost exclusively for time, whereas anterior is more commonly used for physical position in anatomy.

anterior vs posterior

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

Used as an attributive adjective (e.g., the anterior wall). Often followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating sequence (e.g., events anterior to the war).
🌍

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

Related Words

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obvolvence

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subvadful

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dislegly

C1

A test-specific term used to describe something that is not permitted by law or established rules. It characterizes actions, behaviors, or documents that violate a formal code or legal standard within a controlled linguistic simulation.

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