beforehand

[bih-fawr-hand, -fohr-]

adverb

1. in anticipation; in advance; ahead of time.

   We should have made reservations beforehand. I hope to be beforehand with my report.

beforehand

/ bɪˈfɔːˌhænd /

adjective

1. early; in advance; in anticipation

   she came an hour beforehand

Word History and Origins

Origin of beforehand¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, beforehand is from the Middle English word bifor-hand. See before, hand

Example Sentences

Riley said on Saturday night that USC was in communication with the league office at the time and explained the situation to conference officials beforehand.

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The interior minister has already warned that no candidate is allowed to declare victory beforehand.

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Chang recommended looking at a restaurant’s wine list beforehand, online—something I like to do, as well.

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In another instance, she said, a prominent programmer dropped her documentary two days beforehand due to pressure from sponsors.

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Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron’s centrist party, faulted the president for appointing politically skewed prime ministers to lead budget negotiations rather than allowing political parties to reach an agreement beforehand.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• earlier www.thesaurus.com
• sooner