At a glance
～に先立ち means "before" or "prior to" an event. It is a formal expression used in announcements, speeches, news and business writing, usually before a special or important event.
Noun + に先立ち、...
Verb (dictionary form) + に先立ち、...
会議に先立ち、資料を配ります。 Before the meeting, we will hand out the materials.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + に先立ち | 開会式に先立ち | Before the opening ceremony |
| Verb | Dictionary form + に先立ち | 工事を始めるに先立ち | Before starting construction |
| Noun / Verb | ～に先立って | 試合に先立って | Before the match |
| Noun / Verb | ～に先立つ + Noun | 発売に先立つ説明会 | The briefing before the release |
に先立ち and に先立って have the same meaning. に先立ち sounds slightly more written.