Definition In English grammar, an antecedent is the noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to. Also known as a referent. More broadly, an antecedent may be any word in a sentence (or in a sequence of sentences) that another word or phrase refers to. Define Antecedent : Learn the definition of antecedents as a grammatical unit with example sentences. What is pronoun antecedent agreement? Find out here. An antecedent is a word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun that appears later in the sentence or in a subsequent sentence. The antecedent provides the necessary information to understand to whom or what the pronoun refers, ensuring clarity and coherence in communication.