beforehand

[bih-fawr-hand, -fohr-]

See more 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.

Origin of beforehand

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for beforehand

Contemporary Examples

In a series of meetings over the past year, Israel laid out to the U.S. beforehand what would trigger a strike in Syria.
Israel’s Red Line Crossed, U.S. Tacitly Backs Ally’s Strikes in Syria
Eli Lake
May 6, 2013
Cheap gas has also rendered government-preferred energy sources like solar even more uneconomic than they were beforehand.
David's Bookclub: The New New Deal
David Frum
December 1, 2012
Gilligan: That was an idea that we had many months beforehand.
‘Breaking Bad’: Bryan Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Emmy Nominations
Maria Elena Fernandez
September 17, 2012
And up until two hours beforehand, he was in the hospital with a kidney stone.
Vicki Kennedy Remembers Ted Kennedy at the DNC
Lloyd Grove
September 5, 2012
Though his performance went off without a hitch, Rogan was characteristically self-deprecating about it beforehand.
Austrian Markus Rogan: Olympic Swimming’s Dark Horse
Robin Arzón
July 29, 2012

Historical Examples

But beforehand, I can tell you what he and what his sisters will say, when they are sounded.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
You don't give me time, and you are so eager that it is difficult to be beforehand with you on the subject.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
The remoulade sauce will be much better if made some hours beforehand.
The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste:
Mrs. W. G. Waters
The beds chosen for them are those that have been planted with Tulips the autumn beforehand.
The Mayflower, January, 1905
Various
I told you beforehand that you would be swayed by the Coadjutor.
The Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz, Complete
Jean Francois Paul de Gondi, Cardinal de Retz

British Dictionary definitions for beforehand

beforehand

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

Word Origin and History for beforehand

adv., adj.

also before-hand, early 13c., from before + hand, which here is of uncertain signification, unless the original notion is payment in advance or something done before another's hand does it. Hyphenated from 18c., one word from 19c.

beforehand

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}beforehand

Examples from the Web for beforehand

Contemporary Examples

In a series of meetings over the past year, Israel laid out to the U.S. beforehand what would trigger a strike in Syria.

Cheap gas has also rendered government-preferred energy sources like solar even more uneconomic than they were beforehand.

Gilligan: That was an idea that we had many months beforehand.

And up until two hours beforehand, he was in the hospital with a kidney stone.

Though his performance went off without a hitch, Rogan was characteristically self-deprecating about it beforehand.

Historical Examples

But beforehand, I can tell you what he and what his sisters will say, when they are sounded.

You don't give me time, and you are so eager that it is difficult to be beforehand with you on the subject.

The remoulade sauce will be much better if made some hours beforehand.

The beds chosen for them are those that have been planted with Tulips the autumn beforehand.

I told you beforehand that you would be swayed by the Coadjutor.

beforehand

Word Origin and History for beforehand

adv., adj.

Origin of beforehand