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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of before
Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
The band is set to go on a tour immediately after the album’s release, starting in Portland, before stopping in Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, and more cities through mid-December.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Emily Burns, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
The family has been through this before.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before
Preposition
While there’s still some work to do before opening day , The Star got an exclusive sneak peek at the project, which will employ 270 hourly employees in the community.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
The band is set to go on a tour immediately after the album’s release, starting in Portland, before stopping in Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, and more cities through mid-December.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Like many fans, Esler, who had seen the film years before, was drawn to Lydia’s strength and humor as a young female.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
The family has been through this before.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before
Recent Examples of Synonyms for before
Preposition
-
The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The researchers learned that people who ate very similarly to the portfolio diet had a 14% lower risk of developing coronary heart disease or stroke than people who ate less similarly to the diet.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Preposition
-
But age could prove to be Golden State's biggest vulnerability, especially against younger, bigger Western Conference squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
From the next great QB to the next big bust, Arch Manning has found something of a sweet spot of normalcy, having steered Texas to wins against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt in the last month.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Amid those results, former White House adviser Steve Bannon took to social media to warn of the danger ahead for the Republicans.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Call locations ahead to confirm availability, hours and location.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Combs has already spent 14 months behind bars after his arrest in September 2024.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Spanx Shape Original EveryWear Flare Jeans Without any extra discount codes on top, these flattering flare jeans are already 60 percent off.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Preposition
-
Book Now Como Parrot Cay is part of Comoclub, a loyalty program that allows travelers to accumulate credits to use toward future stays.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In 2014, British banker Rurik Jutting brutally murdered two Indonesian women and hid one of the bodies in a suitcase in his upscale apartment in J Residence in Wan Chai, a popular nightlife district in Hong Kong.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Liberty Hall hired Houlihan to raise the capital for a classic direct that closed earlier this year.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Getty Images Rarely would a head coach whose team conceded seven goals in a home game just over one week earlier be described as being in a good position.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Before.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/before. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share