Before Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms before American [bih-fawr, -fohr] / bɪˈfɔr, -ˈfoʊr /

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 British / bɪˈfɔː /

conjunction

1. earlier than the time when

2. rather than

   he'll resign before he agrees to it

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 before Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing before

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

Etymology

Origin of before

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My mind was fixed on snow-covered mountains, so Sal heard her calling before I did.

From Literature

Her mother always said that Sadako had learned to run before she could walk.

From Literature

"It's against my rules. However, since you didn't have a chance to read it to yourself, I will read it aloud for you before I destroy it."

From Literature

His wife entered the shop and greeted friends and customers before joining us.

From Los Angeles Times

A former minister said: "I still think it is very unlikely anybody moves before May. But it is all moving very fast."

From BBC

Related Words

• ahead
• back
• previously
• since
• sooner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.