---
title: "Antecedent River Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "An antecedent river predates mountain uplift, cutting deep gorges. This concept is key for civil services and geography studies."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/antecedent"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- An antecedent river is one that predates the uplift of the mountains it crosses, maintaining its original course by cutting deep gorges as the land rose.
- How does antecedent drainage differ from superimposed drainage?
- Which Indian rivers are classic examples of antecedent drainage?
- What is the diagnostic field evidence of an antecedent river?
- Why did antecedent rivers survive Himalayan uplift?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

An antecedent river is one that predates the uplift of the mountains it crosses, maintaining its original course by cutting deep gorges as the land rose.

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Example

In UPSC Geography answers, the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) cutting its deep Dihang gorge across the eastern Himalaya is cited as the classic antecedent river, having held its course as the range rose through the Cenozoic.

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