beforehand

adverb or adjective

be·​fore·​hand bi-ˈfȯr-ˌhand 

bē-

1

a

: in anticipation

b

: in advance

2

: ahead of time : early

Synonyms of beforehand

• early
• immediately

Examples of beforehand in a Sentence

if you arrive beforehand, we won't be entirely prepared yet

if you get ready beforehand, you won't have to rush at the last minute

Recent Examples on the Web

He was invited to see the movie before the festival, but took issue with the NDA he was asked to sign beforehand. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

She had been married to a man beforehand, and had begun a career as an artist and a filmmaker during her union. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Arriving one day beforehand and flying out as soon as humanly possible. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Some fitness enthusiasts swear that working out on an empty stomach burns more fat, while others insist that eating beforehand is essential for maximizing energy and performance. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for beforehand

• analysand
• misunderstand
• ampersand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland

Kids Definition

beforehand

adverb

be·​fore·​hand -ˌhand 

: ahead of time : in advance