before 1 of 2

1
as in to
earlier than since I'm a faster runner, I got there before him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in against
preceding in space the children always insisted on running before their parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

before

2 of 2

adverb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of before
Preposition
Two weeks before Sardinha’s murder, Charron allegedly busted her eardrum. Charna Flam, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Sebastian was in Qatar throughout the USMNT’s run, seeing his dad’s team advance from its group before falling to the Netherlands in the round of 16. Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Check out the companies making headlines before the bell. Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025 Pope Francis was buried on Saturday and a nine-day mourning period is required before the conclave commences, per AP News. Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for before
Recent Examples of Synonyms for before
Preposition
  • Ward seemed excited about the opportunity while speaking to the media on Wednesday.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Godwin, now 18, pleaded guilty to the murder that outraged the city, offering an apology for the shooting.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Preposition
  • In the meantime, Baku has given it his all to face off against Baek-jin.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The former lottery pick did not play in the biggest game of the regular season, the season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, which caused many to question his future in San Francisco.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Eight hours before the puck even dropped, Stars coach Pete DeBoer was already playing defense, almost trying to preemptively calm everybody down — maybe even his own players — if the thing that always happens happened again.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Arango scored a penalty kick late in stoppage time to make it 5-3, but the result was already settled by then.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
Preposition
  • The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has revealed its 2025 class of inductees, celebrating artists who shaped the sound of popular music.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Cyrus, 63, wrapped his arms around his new girlfriend in a series of photos shared on social media Sunday.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • This will be the largest crowd ever for a Bananas game, eclipsing the 65,000 that watched a game earlier this year in Tampa.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • While the Harvard survey doesn’t name specific causes, many young Americans may be feeling the squeeze from persistently high inflation and the resumption of student loan payments — especially those still early in their careers, when earnings tend to be lower.
    Mike Winters, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Before.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/before. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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