JLPT N1 grammar

〜に先駆けてmeaning and usage

Meaning

The earliest; very first in A; Ahead of A; in advance of A

How to form it

  • nounに先駆けて/に先駆け

How it is used

'Ahead of A, be the first to B': B is usually a launch, a start or an introduction. Formal, common in news and business (「全国に先駆けて」). 「〜に先立って」 simply means doing something before an event begins.

Examples

  1. 他県に先駆けて夏休みが始まった。

    Summer vacation began (here) ahead of the other prefectures.

  2. この映画は、海外に先駆けて日本で公開される。

    This film will open in Japan ahead of other countries.

  3. この市は全国に先駆けて、ごみの分別を始めた。

    This city was the first in the country to start sorting its rubbish.