Prior, a word that is used commonly in our everyday conversation, refers to something that occurred before a certain event or time period. However, there are many synonyms for the word 'prior' that can be used in place of the same. Some of the most commonly used synonyms for prior include 'previous', 'former', 'preceding', 'past', 'earlier', 'antecedent', 'beforehand', and 'preliminary'. These synonyms can be used interchangeably with the word 'prior' and can help to convey the same meaning in a different way. Using synonyms adds to the variety in the language and can help in creating interesting conversations and literature.