Synonyms

ere

American

[air] / ɛər /

preposition

before.

ere British

/ ɛə /

conjunction

a poetic word for before

"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

Etymology

Origin of ere

before 900; Middle English; Old English ǣr, ēr (cognate with German ehr ), comparative of ār soon, early; cognate with Gothic air. See erst, early

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

ere

Adjusted earnings per share, which excludes nonrecurring items, declined to 87 cents from $1.06, but ere above the FactSet consensus of 63 cents.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2025

A sign nearby now reads "Banksy woz ere" and offers an apology to disappointed fans of the street artist.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2024

“To love that well which thou must leave ere long,” says the Bard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2022

Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay: We may effect this business yet ere day.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 16, 2020

It was at Circle City, ere the year was out, that Pete’s apprehensions were realized.

From "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023