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before
[ bih-fawr, -fohr ]
preposition
- previous to; earlier or sooner than:
Phone me before noon.
- in front of; ahead of; in advance of:
his shadow advancing before him;
She stood before the window.
- ahead of; in the future of; awaiting:
The golden age is before us.
- in preference to; rather than:
They would die before surrendering.
- in precedence of, as in order or rank:
We put freedom before wealth.
- in the presence or sight of: to appear before an audience.
- less than; until: used in indicating the exact time:
It's ten before three.
- under the jurisdiction or consideration of:
He was summoned before a magistrate.
- confronted by; in the face of:
Before such wild accusations, he was too stunned to reply.
- in the regard of:
a crime before God and humanity.
- under the overwhelming influence of:
bending before the storm.
- without figuring or deducting:
income before deductions.
adverb
- in front; in advance; ahead:
The king entered with macebearers walking before.
- in time preceding; previously:
If we'd known before, we'd have let you know.
Antonyms: subsequently, afterward
- earlier or sooner:
Begin at noon, not before.
Antonyms: later
conjunction
- previous to the time when:
Send the telegram before we go.
- sooner than; rather than:
I will die before I submit.
before
/ bɪˈfɔː /
conjunction
- earlier than the time when
- rather than
he'll resign before he agrees to it
preposition
- preceding in space or time; in front of; ahead of
standing before the altar
- when confronted by
to withdraw before one's enemies
- in the presence of
to be brought before a judge
- in preference to
to put friendship before money
adverb
- at an earlier time; previously; beforehand; in front
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of before1
Idioms and Phrases
- cart before the horse
- cast pearls before swine
- look before you leap
Example Sentences
Before anti-vaxxers, there were anti-fluoriders: a group who spread fear about the anti-tooth decay agent added to drinking water.
In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.
Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
Was there an investigation of people at DOJ before they arrived at that conclusion?
Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.
And he was gone, and out of sight on the swift galloping Benito, before Father Gaspara bethought himself.
Descending the Alps to the east or south into Piedmont, a new world lies around and before you.
Before Ripperda could unclasp his lips to reply, the stranger had opened the door, and passed through it like a gliding shadow.
Louis stood firm, though pale and respectful, before the resentful gaze of Elizabeth.
Babylas raised his pale face; he knew what was coming; it had come so many times before.
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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.
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