先立つ|さきだつsakidatsu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, intransitive verbto lead; to take the lead (in doing something)
2. godan verb, intransitive verbto precede; to go before; to take precedence
   おごりは破滅はめつに先立さきだつ。↗

   Pride comes before a fall.

   このミーティングの目的もくてきは、１月がつの商品しょうひん企画きかく会議かいぎに先立さきだち、新製品しんせいひんのプランを考かんがえることです。↗

   The purpose of the meeting is to make a plan for a new product prior to the Product Development Meeting in January.
3. godan verb, intransitive verbto die before (esp. one's spouse, parents, etc.)
   スミスさんは奥おくさんに先立さきだたれた。↗

   Mr Smith was bereaved of his wife.
4. godan verb, intransitive verbto be a prerequisite

• Synonym先んじるさきんじるWrittenWritten verb for getting ahead of others or forestalling them; stresses acting one step ahead. 「先立つ」 also covers dying before a loved one and money as the first need.
• Synonym先行せんこうNeutralSino-Japanese noun for going ahead or happening ahead of time, as in 「先行販売」「先行研究」「先行車」; leans toward written style.
• Synonym先んずるさきんずるWrittenLiterary form of 「先んじる」 with the same meaning; belongs to written prose.
• Antonym遅れるおくれるNeutralAntonym: to be late or fall behind; the opposite of 「先立つ」 going ahead or taking the lead.

Use 「先立つ」 for taking the lead, coming before something, or dying before a loved one, as in 「親に先立つ」「先立つものは金」; use 「先んじる」 to forestall someone, 「先行」 for going ahead of time, and 「遅れる」 is the antonym.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 先頭せんとうに立たつ。
2. ある物事ものごとよりも前まえに行おこなわれる。
3. 先さきに死しぬ。
4. 物事ものごとをする際さい、最初さいしょに必要ひつようとなる。