before

[bih-fawr, -fohr]

preposition

1. previous to; earlier or sooner than.

   Phone me before noon.

2. in front of; ahead of; in advance of.

   his shadow advancing before him;

   She stood before the window.

3. ahead of; in the future of; awaiting.

   The golden age is before us.

4. in preference to; rather than.

   They would die before surrendering.

5. in precedence of, as in order or rank.

   We put freedom before wealth.

6. in the presence or sight of: to appear before an audience.

7. less than; until: used in indicating the exact time.

   It's ten before three.

8. under the jurisdiction or consideration of.

   He was summoned before a magistrate.

9. confronted by; in the face of.

   Before such wild accusations, he was too stunned to reply.

10. in the regard of.

    a crime before God and humanity.

11. under the overwhelming influence of.

    bending before the storm.

12. without figuring or deducting.

    income before deductions.

adverb

1. in front; in advance; ahead.

   The king entered with macebearers walking before.

   Antonyms: behind, after

2. in time preceding; previously.

   If we'd known before, we'd have let you know.

   Antonyms: subsequently, afterward

3. earlier or sooner.

   Begin at noon, not before.

   Antonyms: later

conjunction

1. previous to the time when.

   Send the telegram before we go.

2. sooner than; rather than.

   I will die before I submit.

before

/ bɪˈfɔː /

conjunction

1. earlier than the time when

2. rather than

   he'll resign before he agrees to it

preposition

1. preceding in space or time; in front of; ahead of

   standing before the altar

2. when confronted by

   to withdraw before one's enemies

3. in the presence of

   to be brought before a judge

4. in preference to

   to put friendship before money

adverb

1. at an earlier time; previously; beforehand; in front

Word History and Origins

Origin of before¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English beforen, Old English beforan, equivalent to be by + foran “before” ( fore fore ¹ + -an adverb suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of before¹

Old English beforan ; related to Old Frisian befara , Old High German bifora

Idioms and Phrases

• cart before the horse
• cast pearls before swine
• look before you leap

Example Sentences

The Crossfires had two singles to their name before they signed to the fledgling White Whale Records in 1965.

From Los Angeles Times

Carpenter worked with Bompastor during three of the Frenchwoman's five years at Lyon so they knew each other well before she arrived in London.

From BBC

"We will take that seriously", he said, before adding that Reform would need 5,000 vetted candidates by next year.

From BBC

We talked to Slash about a week before Halloween Horror Nights opened from Orlando, Fla., where he was holed up recording an album with his band the Conspirators.

From Los Angeles Times

He climbed into his sleeping bag without dinner, because he knew it was more important to warm up before the cold of night descended than it was to eat.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ahead 
• back 
• previously 
• since 
• sooner