Synonyms of before

before 1 of 2

preposition

1

as in to

earlier than

since I'm a faster runner, I got there before him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• to
• until
• till
• of
• prior to
• previous to
• in advance of
• ahead of
• ere
• fore
• afore
• up to

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• after
• following
• since
• next
• next to

2

as in against

preceding in space

the children always insisted on running before their parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• against
• in front of
• ahead of
• in advance of
• afore
• fore

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• after
• following

before

2 of 2

adverb

bi-ˈfȯr 

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

• earlier
• ahead
• already
• early
• previously
• beforehand
• now
• afore
• shortly
• preliminarily
• soon
• first
• anteriorly
• in advance
• formerly
• antecedently
• prematurely
• before long
• first off
• a priori
• presently
• erelong

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• later
• afterward
• after
• subsequently
• next
• behind
• by and by

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of before

Preposition

Messi returned to his native Argentina over the weekend, missing Miami's 2-1 loss to Monterrey on Saturday, but was dressed and on the bench before subbing in for Daniel Pinter at the start of the second half. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

The group of officers included at least two plainclothes officers wearing bulletproof vests, who arrived in an unmarked car shortly before the shooting. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Adverb

None of the four teachers, including me, had ever taught before. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

At the time, steamships and the printing press enabled people and ideas to travel farther and faster across the globe than ever before. — Mimi Hanaoka, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing before

• before long