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Formation: N + に先立って / に先立ち; V-dictionary + に先立って; N + に先立つ + N; N + に先立っての + N

〜に先立って means that something is done first, before an important event, usually as a preliminary step or preparation for it. It is formal and is common in news reports, official announcements and ceremonies. に先立ち is the more written continuative form, and に先立つ modifies nouns (開会に先立つ式典). The main clause is typically a preparatory event (a preview, a briefing, a meeting), not just anything that happened earlier. Compared with plain 前に, it is more formal and stresses order and preparation. Unlike 〜に際して and 〜にあたって, which refer to the time of the occasion itself, に先立って places the action clearly before it.

Variants: に先立ち、に先立つ + N、に先立っての

Examples

• 映画の公開に先立って、試写会が開かれた。
  A preview screening was held ahead of the film's release.
• 首脳会談に先立ち、両国の外相が会談した。
  Prior to the summit, the two countries' foreign ministers held talks.
• 工事を開始するに先立って、住民説明会が行われた。
  Before construction began, a briefing was held for local residents.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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