before

adverb or adjective be·fore \ bi-ˈfȯr , bē- \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of before

1 : in advance : ahead

marching on before

2 : at an earlier time

the night before

knew her before

See before defined for English-language learners

See before defined for kids

Recent Examples of before from the Web

But to be more effective than before, US action would presumably need to be more robust.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "Crises, confrontations envelop Trump at home and abroad," 9 Apr. 2018
According to police, officers responding to a report of a person with a gun at the home on the 6200 block of Webster Street shortly before 11 p.m. were told a man had shot his girlfriend and was upstairs along with their children.

— mensah m. dean, Philly.com, "Philadelphia couple dead in apparent murder-suicide," 8 Apr. 2018
The four-alarm fire was quickly contained to just the 50th floor, but was not considered under control until just before 8 p.m. on account of the smoke conditions on the floors above.

— chas danner, Daily Intelligencer, "One Dead, 4 Injured After Fire Breaks Out in Trump Tower," 7 Apr. 2018
Temperatures should steadily drop during the nighttime hours, bottoming out in the near freezing to mid-30s range by just before dawn as snowflakes mix in.

— a. camden walker, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Quick warmth today, then a quick light and wet snow possible tomorrow morning," 6 Apr. 2018
There's a chance of showers and thunderstorm before 9 p.m., and then again after 2 a.m.

— jennifer larino, NOLA.com, "Here's when Friday's storms are expected to reach the New Orleans area," 6 Apr. 2018
The next day, Kevin Pomare, 38, of Mattapan, was shot in the head shortly before 4 p.m. in a drive-by shooting.

— jerome campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston police identify two victims fatally shot over Easter weekend," 5 Apr. 2018
According to the New York Daily News, officers responded to the area just before 5 p.m. after three people called 911 saying a black man was waving a silver gun at people.

— monique judge, The Root, "NYPD Officers Kill Mentally-Challenged Black Man They Say Aimed a Metal Pipe at Them Like a Gun," 4 Apr. 2018
The affidavit says police were alerted to the crash on March 26, just before 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET), after a German tourist alerted authorities to a brown vehicle that was on its roof down an embankment.

— NBC News, "Deputies search home of family in California cliff plunge for clues about motive, missing kids," 2 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'before.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of before

Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran before, from fore

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

before Synonyms

Phrases

in advance;

before

preposition

Definition of before

1 a (1) : forward of : in front of

stood before the fire

(2) : in the presence of

speaking before the conference

b : under the jurisdiction or consideration of

the case before the court

c (1) : at the disposal of

the great sums placed before him

(2) : in store for

got the whole summer before you

2 : preceding in time : earlier than

just before noon

3 : in a higher or more important position than

put quantity before quality

See before defined for English-language learners

Examples of before in a Sentence

We arrived shortly before six o'clock.
He left just before sunrise.
I've never seen her so happy before now.
Call me before your arrival.
She arrived the day before yesterday.
Why haven't you ever helped me before now?
Your name is listed before mine.
You'll see my house just before the bank and after the school.
The Great Plains stretched endlessly before them.
The championship fight took place before a crowd of thousands.

Recent Examples of before from the Web

Even before Bolton started, rumors were circulating about potential exits on the national security team.

— Time, "John Bolton Takes the Lead as National Security Adviser as Tensions Mount Abroad," 10 Apr. 2018
When Anthony Sisco went to trial, his attorney argued that the rifle was being brandished at him before the shooting started.

— ian cummings, kansascity, "Prosecutors withheld key to video evidence in Kansas City murder, convict tells court | The Kansas City Star," 10 Apr. 2018
But many of the guests had never been to a fashion show before.

— maxwell williams, Vogue, "Two of L.A.’s Coolest Labels Stage an “Anti-Fashion” Show," 10 Apr. 2018
Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to appear before a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees on today.

— justin carissimo, CBS News, "Watch Mark Zuckerberg's Senate committee testimony - live updates," 10 Apr. 2018
Work on security upgrades and conversations surrounding school security are underway in some districts, though in some cases the work began before the Parkland shooting.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "Metal detectors not the answer, Fox Valley school officials say," 10 Apr. 2018
The first torpedo hit the ship just before 8 a.m., followed by multiple torpedoes that caused the ship to quickly capsize, killing 429.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Navy seaman died in WWII attack at Pearl Harbor. His remains will be buried in NC. | Charlotte Observer," 10 Apr. 2018
Simmons had already adjusted to life in the NBA and had spent a year learning the 76ers’ system before the 2017-18 season.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "Richard Jefferson picks 'true rookie' Donovan Mitchell over Ben Simmons for Rookie of the Year," 10 Apr. 2018
Be sure to drop by and see all of Ali's beautiful yarns before they are gone.

— mary mooney, OregonLive.com, "Local Yarn Store Day, Traveling Ewe trip aids Columbia River Gorge," 9 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of before

Middle English before, beforen, going back to Old English beforan — more at ¹before

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

before Synonyms

Synonyms

ahead of, ere, of, previous to, prior to, to;

Antonyms

after, following;

Near Antonyms

next, next to, since;

Related Words

till, until, up to;

Phrases

in advance of;

before

conjunction

Definition of before

1 a (1) : earlier than the time that

call me before you go

(2) : sooner or quicker than

I'll be done before you know it

(3) : so that … do not

get out of there before you get dirty

b : until the time that

miles to go before I sleep
—Robert Frost

c (1) : or else … not

must be convicted before he can be removed from office

(2) : or else

get out of here before I call a cop

2 : rather or sooner than

would starve before he'd steal

See before defined for English-language learners

Examples of before in a Sentence

He left long before morning came.
Say goodbye before you go.
Call me before you arrive.
I finished the exam before he did.
It was not long before he arrived.

Origin and Etymology of before

Middle English before, beforen, from before, beforen, ²before

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

BEFORE Defined for English Language Learners

before

adverb

Definition of before for English Language Learners

: at an earlier time
: to or toward the place where someone is going : in advance

before

preposition

Definition of before for English Language Learners

: at a time preceding (something or someone) : earlier than (something or someone)
—used to describe a time earlier than a specified hour
: preceding (something or someone) in order or in a series

before

conjunction

Definition of before for English Language Learners

: earlier than the time that : earlier than when
: until the time that
—used to refer to something that might happen

BEFORE Defined for Kids

before

adverb be·fore \ bi-ˈfȯr \

Definition of before for Students

1 : at an earlier time

I've been here before.

2 : ahead

go on before

before

preposition

Definition of before for Students

1 : in front of

He stood before a mirror.

2 : earlier than

You got there before me.

3 : before in order

Your name is listed before mine.

4 : in the presence of

She spoke before a crowd.

before

conjunction

Definition of before for Students

1 : ahead of the time when

Wash before you eat.

2 : sooner or quicker than

I'll be done before you know it.

3 : more willingly than

I'd starve before I'd steal.

4 : until the time that

It wasn't long before he caught on.

Law Dictionary

before

preposition be·fore

legal Definition of before

1 : in the presence of

then personally appeared before me

2 : to be judged or acted on by

a case before the court

a bill coming up before Congress

Learn More about before

See words that rhyme with before Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for before Spanish Central: Translation of before Nglish: Translation of before for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of before for Arabic speakers

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before

Definition of before

Recent Examples of before from the Web

Origin and Etymology of before

before Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

before

Definition of before

Examples of before in a Sentence

Recent Examples of before from the Web

Origin and Etymology of before

before Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

before

Definition of before

Examples of before in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of before

BEFORE Defined for English Language Learners

before

Definition of before for English Language Learners

before

Definition of before for English Language Learners

before

Definition of before for English Language Learners

BEFORE Defined for Kids

before

Definition of before for Students

before

Definition of before for Students

before

Definition of before for Students

Law Dictionary

before

legal Definition of before

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