1. 先前的；在前的；在先的
    You use prior to indicate that something has already happened, or must happen, before another event takes place.

    e.g. He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the protest...
           他声称自己事先并不知道这次抗议的事。
    e.g. The Constitution requires the president to seek the prior approval of Congress for military action...
           宪法规定总统在采取军事行动之前必须获得国会同意。

2. （所有权、责任）更重要的，优先的
    A prior claim or duty is more important than other claims or duties and needs to be dealt with first.

    e.g. The firm I wanted to use had prior commitments.
           我想选用的这家公司已有约在先。

3. 小修道院院长；大修道院副院长
    A prior is a monk who is in charge of a priory or a monk who is the second most important person in a monastery.

4. 在…之前；先于
    If something happens prior to a particular time or event, it happens before that time or event.

prior是什么意思

    e.g. Prior to his Japan trip, he went to New York...
           在去日本之前，他去了纽约。
    e.g. A man seen hanging around the area prior to the shooting could have been involved.
           在枪杀案发生之前，有人目睹一位男子在这附近游荡，该男子可能与此案有关。