1
2
as in against
preceding in space
the children always insisted on running before their parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in earlier
so as to precede something in order of time
their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of before
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
My final piece of advice is never to look at a birth chart before a first date.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Lenderman conveys this perfectly, despite having never played it live before.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for before
Preposition
California - Travelers wrap up their trip at the Santa Monica Pier, but not before making some worthy pitstops in the Golden State.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
My final piece of advice is never to look at a birth chart before a first date.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
The little buildings are 20 feet high, about 8 feet higher than before, allowing lifeguards to see farther.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Lenderman conveys this perfectly, despite having never played it live before.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for before
Recent Examples of Synonyms for before
Preposition
-
Know More The administration’s approach to the actual cases never fit the pattern of a new antitrust movement.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
For all its homage to maritime heritage, the rooms themselves do not skimp on contemporary comforts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Feb. 2026
Preposition
-
The lawsuit also levels a series of accusations against the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
With the city facing multiple lawsuits over the billing debacle, Clark helped oversee a friendly class-action lawsuit against the city, the judge found.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Outside Washington, the classical music industry suffers the usual ups and downs, shocks and bumps, with layoffs at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and a reduced season ahead.—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The Clippers went ahead by four on free throws from Mathurin and Jones, but Murray drove for a dunk and hit a three before drawing the foul by Jones on a last-ditch attempt from beyond the arc.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Satisfied with medical procedures already in place, NASA ordered no extra checkups for the crew ahead of liftoff and no new diagnostic equipment was packed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Overwhelm, already a danger to investigators managing a complex case, isn’t helped by online conspiracy theorists and other noisemakers.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Preposition
-
Because the crash happened not far from one of the department’s precincts, officers on routine patrol were able to get to the scene almost immediately, Chatham County police said.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In the courtroom will be parents and families from across the US who say their children were harmed — or even died — as a result of social media.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The other half of that spacewalk, Christina Koch, is among the four Artemis II astronauts waiting to fly around the moon as early as March.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Paul Modrowski was 18 years old when prosecutors charged him and a co-defendant with the murder of a friend, Dean Fawcett, whose headless body was discovered months earlier near railroad tracks in Barrington.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Before.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/before. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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