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.

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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

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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

before Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing before

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

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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

The collision closed all lanes of PCH for several hours between East Winding Way and West Winding Way Monday night before eventually reopening.

From Los Angeles Times

MSPs were told that the government would launch a short consultation on the proposals before laying secondary legislation at Holyrood next week.

From BBC

"This is not an unknown for me, I've done this before. I wish I wasn't in this position but I am and I will do my best," she said.

From BBC

In November, Scotland were poor enough to fall 17-0 behind against New Zealand and yet good enough to make it 17-17 thereafter, before falling away at the end.

From BBC

It actually came a week after I proposed, when I went out to dinner with a good friend who had proposed to his girlfriend a few months before.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• ahead
• back
• previously
• since
• sooner