beforehand

[ bih-fawr-hand, -fohr- ]

/ bɪˈfɔrˌhænd, -ˈfoʊr- /

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See synonyms for beforehand on Thesaurus.com

adverb, adjective

in anticipation; in advance; ahead of time: We should have made reservations beforehand. I hope to be beforehand with my report.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of beforehand

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

Words nearby beforehand

beflag, beflowered, befog, befool, before, beforehand, before long, before the wind, beforetime, before you can say Jack Robinson, before you know it

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use beforehand in a sentence

Showings will include a special message from Seth Rogen that will play beforehand.
The Inside Story of How Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Finally Made It to Theaters|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A call made to police beforehand described Rice as “a guy with a pistol” on a swing set, but said it was “probably fake.”
The 14 Teens Killed by Cops Since Michael Brown|Nina Strochlic|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the fashion shoot beforehand, he was puppyish energy and charm—no diva-ishness, just fast, funny, and co-operative.
Daniel Radcliffe: I’m Richer Than One Direction|Tim Teeman|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only other option is to use laser-guided bombs, but even then the target has to be correctly indentified beforehand.
Air Force Pilots Say They're Flying Blind Against ISIS|Dave Majumdar|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Are you a writer who sits down and outlines things beforehand?
A Trailblazer in YA Dystopian Fiction: An Interview With 'The Giver' Author Lois Lowry|Marianne Hayes|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They had read the placards, they wished to see what the placards had announced, and to make their choice beforehand.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)|Alexandre Dumas, fils
Once or twice she took a quiet dinner there alone, having instructed Celestine beforehand to prepare no dinner at home.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
When they are ready they hasten in a crowd to the warehouse, where they have entered into a contract beforehand.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
On this occasion he was well beforehand with the work, and sent in the cantata to the committee by the 1st of April.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Unless the accounts are made up beforehand, parsons can't avail much at the twelfth hour.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for beforehand

beforehand

/ (bɪˈfɔːˌhænd) /

adjective, adverb (postpositive)

early; in advance; in anticipationshe came an hour beforehand

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

beforehand

Origin of beforehand

Words nearby beforehand

Words related to beforehand

How to use beforehand in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beforehand