In addition to the uses shown below, before is used in the phrasal verbs 'go before' and 'lay before'.
1. preposition
If something happens before a particular date, time, or event, it happens earlier than that date, time, or event.
Annie was born a few weeks before Christmas.
Before World War II, women were not recruited as intelligence officers.
Dan rarely comes to bed before 2 or 3am.
Synonyms: earlier than, ahead of, prior to, in advance of More Synonyms of before
Before is also a conjunction.
Stock prices climbed close to the peak they'd registered before the stock marketcrashed.
2. preposition [PREP v-ing]
If you do one thing before doing something else, you do it earlier than the other thing.
He spent his early life in Sri Lanka before moving to England.
Before leaving, he went into his office to fill in the daily time sheet.
Before is also a conjunction.
He took a cold shower and then towelled off before he put on fresh clothes.
3. adverb [noun ADVERB]
You use before when you are talking about time. For example, if something happened the day before a particular date or event, it happened during the previous day.
The war had ended only a month or so before.
Synonyms: previously, earlier, sooner, in advance More Synonyms of before
Before is also a preposition.
It's interesting that he sent me the book twenty days before the deadline for mybook.
Before is also a conjunction.
Kelman had a book published in the U.S. more than a decade before a British publisherwould touch him.
4. conjunction
If you do something before someone else can do something, you do it when they have not yet done it.
Before he could take another one, she laid her fingertips on his mouth.
5. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If someone has done something before, they have done it on a previous occasion. If someone has not done something before, they have never done it.
I've been here before.
I had met Professor Lown before.
She had never been to Italy before.
Synonyms: in the past, earlier, once, previously More Synonyms of before
6. conjunction
If there is a period of time or if several things are done before something happens, it takes that amount of time or effort for this thing to happen.
It was some time before the door opened in response to his ring.
7. conjunction
If a particular situation has to happen before something else happens, this situation must happen or exist in order for the other thing to happen.
There was additional work to be done before all the troops would be ready.
8. preposition
If someone is before something, they are in front of it.
[formal]
They drove through a tall iron gate and stopped before a large white villa.
Synonyms: in front of, ahead of, in advance of, to the fore of More Synonyms of before
9. preposition
If you tell someone that one place is a certain distance before another, you mean that they will come to the first place first.
The turn is about two kilometres before the roundabout.
10. preposition
If you appear or come before an official person or group, you go there and answer questions.
The Governor will appear before the committee next Tuesday.
Synonyms: in the presence of, in front of, before the eyes of More Synonyms of before
11. preposition
If something happens before a particular person or group, it is seen by or happens while this person or this group is present.
The game followed a colourful opening ceremony before a crowd of seventy-four thousand.
12. preposition
If you have something such as a journey, a task, or a stage of your life before you, you must do it or live through it in the future.
Everyone in the room knew it was the single hardest task before them.
I saw before me an idyllic life.
Synonyms: ahead of, in front of, in advance of More Synonyms of before
13. preposition
When you want to say that one person or thing is more important than another, you can say that they come before the other person or thing.
Life is still a juggling act, but my children come before anything else.
14. before long
More Synonyms of before
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
before in British English
(bɪˈfɔː)
conjunction(subordinating)
1.
earlier than the time when
2.
rather than
he'll resign before he agrees to it
preposition
3.
preceding in space or time; in front of; ahead of
standing before the altar
4.
when confronted by
to withdraw before one's enemies
5.
in the presence of
to be brought before a judge
6.
in preference to
to put friendship before money
adverb
7.
at an earlier time; previously; beforehand; in front
Word origin
Old English beforan; related to Old Frisian befara, Old High German bifora
before in American English
(biˈfɔr; bɪˈfɔr)
adverb
1.
in advance; in front; ahead
2.
in the past; previously
I've heard that song before
3.
at an earlier time; sooner
come at ten, not before
preposition
4.
ahead of in time, space, order, rank, or importance
5.
located just to the front of
he paused before the door
6.
in or into the sight, notice, presence, etc. of
a thought flashed before her mind; he stood before his accuser
7.
being considered, judged, or decided by
the matter before the committee
8.
earlier than; prior to
he left before noon
9.
still to be reached, accomplished, etc. by
the hardest task was before them
10.
in preference to; rather than
to choose death before dishonor
conjunction
11.
earlier than the time that
drop in before you go
12.
sooner than; rather than
I'd die before I'd tell
Word origin
ME biforen < OE beforan < be-, by + foran, fore
Examples of 'before' in a sentence
before
We were home three weeks before it went off.
The Sun (2016)
Things got worse before they got better.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We spoke about it before the match and that is what we did.
The Sun (2016)
We have a point and it felt positive because it was one more than before the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This means drawing up a list before you leave home and being disciplined about sticking to it.
The Sun (2016)
The pupil gave me a rather bemused look before saying he had been last night and preferred their pizzas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While not the account of a careful historian it gives a tremendous feel for their life before fame took over.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She had also been married before.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For away games you rarely get to bed before 3am and then the adrenalin keeps you awake for longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His dad and brothers said goodbye before his life support was turned off.
The Sun (2009)
Most change involves some risk and often things get worse before they get better.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
The world would have to wait another fifty years before work would finally get under way.
Arthur Herman THE SCOTTISH ENLIGHTENMENT: The Scots' Invention of the Modern World (2002)
Real champions make their move about six weeks before the end of the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Their evaluation of the evidence before them was one which an appeal court should respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Wearing trainers that are still sweaty from the day before can also cause problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
See it before the sea washes it all away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It seems only a matter of time before other investment banks wade in.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We make sure one is absorbed into the family before we add another.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
When you have been in situations before you have an understanding of what needs to be done.
The Sun (2014)
The worrying thing is not many people realise what is happening before their eyes.
The Sun (2013)
This means that before anything else it matters where we look.
Christianity Today (2000)
It has seen targets come and go before.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They had been bombarding the city for days before they attempted to storm the walls.
Andy Dougan THE HUNTING OF MAN (2004)
And how different is this to life before the revolution?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Friends who lived in cities heard about new things before we did.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They existed long before we did.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And don't buy anything until the week before departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Or rather it was before the Olympics came along.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had pledged to end the war in Afghanistan before he leaves office.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It then shows them leaving the club together shortly before 3am.
The Sun (2011)
Far better all these matters are thrashed out before he joins rather than coming to a head a bit further down the line.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
before
British English: before /bɪˈfɔː/ ADVERB
You use before when you are talking about a previous time.
The war had ended only a month before.
American English: before
Arabic: قَبْلَ
Brazilian Portuguese: antes
Chinese: 以前
Croatian: ranije
Czech: předtím
Danish: før
Dutch: vroeger
European Spanish: antes antes
Finnish: aiemmin
French: avant
German: davor
Greek: προηγουμένως
Italian: prima
Japanese: 以前に
Korean: 앞에
Norwegian: før
Polish: wcześniej
European Portuguese: antes
Romanian: înainte
Russian: прежде
Latin American Spanish: antes
Swedish: före
Thai: ก่อน
Turkish: önceden
Ukrainian: раніше
Vietnamese: trước
British English: before /bɪˈfɔː/ CONJUNCTION
If you do something before someone else, you do it when they have not yet done it.
Before I got to the ball, someone else kicked it away.
American English: before
Arabic: قَبْلَ أَنْ
Brazilian Portuguese: antes que
Chinese: 在...之前
Croatian: prije
Czech: dříve než
Danish: før
Dutch: voordat
European Spanish: antes de que
Finnish: ennen kuin
French: avant que
German: bevor
Greek: προτού
Italian: prima
Japanese: ･･･する前に
Korean: ...하기 전에
Norwegian: heller enn
Polish: zanim
European Portuguese: antes que
Romanian: înainte
Russian: до того как
Latin American Spanish: antes de que
Swedish: innan
Thai: ก่อนที่
Turkish: önce
Ukrainian: перш ніж
Vietnamese: trước
British English: before /bɪˈfɔː/ PREPOSITION
If one thing happens before another thing, it happens earlier than it.
My birthday is just before his.
American English: before
Arabic: أَمَام
Brazilian Portuguese: antes
Chinese: 在...之前
Croatian: prije
Czech: před
Danish: før
Dutch: voor
European Spanish: antes de
Finnish: ennen
French: avant
German: vor
Greek: πριν από
Italian: prima
Japanese: ･･･の前に
Korean: (…보다) 앞에
Norwegian: før
Polish: przed
European Portuguese: antes
Romanian: înainte de
Russian: перед
Latin American Spanish: antes de
Swedish: före
Thai: ก่อนที่
Turkish: önünde
Ukrainian: перед
Vietnamese: trước
All related terms of 'before'
go before
Something that has gone before has happened or been discussed at an earlier time.
before dark
If you do something before dark , you do it before the sun sets and night begins .
before long
If you say that something will happen or happened before long , you mean that it will happen or happened soon.
before-tax
before tax has been deducted ; gross
lay before
If you lay an idea or piece of information before someone, you present it to them in detail , usually in order to obtain their approval or advice .
age before beauty
(often said humorously when yielding precedence ) older people take precedence over younger people
before one's time
prematurely
before the fact
before the commission of the offence
before the mast
as an apprentice seaman
before the wind
with the wind coming from astern
before your eyes
if something happens before your eyes, it happens directly in front of you, and you cannot do anything to stop it or change it
before your time
If you say that something was before your time , you mean that it happened or existed before you were born or before you were able to know about it or remember it.
best-before date
a date on packaged food indicating how long it is safe to keep it
leg before wicket
a manner of dismissal on the grounds that a batsman has been struck on the leg by a bowled ball that otherwise would have hit the wicket
not before time
If you say not before time after a statement has been made about something that has been done, you are saying in an emphatic way that you think it should have been done sooner .
before-and-after test
a test which compares the state or function of something before intervention or modification , and after it
carry all before one
to win unanimous support or approval for oneself
carry all before you
to achieve great success in a task or competition
have heard sth before
If you say that you have heard something before , you mean that you are not interested in it, or do not believe it, or are not surprised about it, because you already know about it or have experienced it.
lull before the storm
If you describe a situation as the lull before the storm , you mean that although it is calm now , there is going to be trouble in the future .
cast pearls before swine
to waste your time by offering something that is helpful or valuable to someone who does not appreciate or understand it
run before you can walk
to try to do something which is very difficult or advanced before you have made sure that you can successfully achieve something simpler
the sb/sth before last
You use expressions such as the night before last , the election before last and the leader before last to refer to the period of time, event , or person that came immediately before the most recent one in a series .
to carry all before you
If a person or team carries all before them, they succeed very easily .
the calm before the storm
You can use the calm before the storm to refer to a quiet period in which there is little or no activity , before a period in which there is a lot of trouble or intense activity.
to cast pearls before swine
If you say that someone is casting pearls before swine , you mean that they are wasting their time by offering something that is helpful or valuable to someone who does not appreciate or understand it.
past the hour/before the hour
If you want to state the time exactly , you can give a number of minutes followed by before the hour or past the hour .
put the cart before the horse
to do things in the wrong order
lbw
leg before wicket
before you could say Jack Robinson
said to mean that something happened very suddenly and quickly
place sth above/before/over sth
If you place one thing above , before , or over another, you think that the first thing is more important than the second and you show this in your behaviour .
to put the cart before the horse
If you say that someone is putting the cart before the horse , you mean that they are doing things in the wrong order.
ahead of your time before one's time
If someone is ahead of their time or before their time , they have new ideas a long time before other people start to think in the same way .
before/in front of/under your eyes
If you say that something happens before your eyes , in front of your eyes , or under your eyes , you are emphasizing that it happens where you can see it clearly and often implying that it is surprising or unpleasant .
count one's chickens before they are hatched
to be overoptimistic in acting on expectations which are not yet fulfilled
accessory
Accessories are items of equipment that are not usually essential , but which can be used with or added to something else in order to make it more efficient , useful , or decorative .
a red rag to a bull
something which always makes a particular person very angry
EBIT
EBIT is the amount of profit that a person or company receives before interest and taxes have been deducted .
don't count your chickens
said to mean that you should not make plans for the future because you do not know for certain how a particular situation will develop
EBITDA
earnings before interest , tax , depreciation , and amortization
Chinese translation of 'before'
before
(bɪˈfɔːʳ)
prep
(in time) 之前 (zhīqián)
⇒ just before Christmas就在圣诞节前 (jiù zài shèngdànjié qián)
(frm, = in front of, ahead of) 在 ... 前面 (zài ... qiánmian)
⇒ They stopped before a large white house.他们在一座大白房子前面停了下来。 (Tāmen zài yī zuò dà bái fángzi qiánmian tíngle xià lái.)
⇒ the duty which lay before me摆在我面前的职责 (bǎi zài wǒ miànqián de zhízé)
conj
(in time) 在 ... 之前 (zài ... zhīqián)
⇒ Can I see you before you leave?你走之前，我去看你，好吗？ (Nǐ zǒu zhīqián, wǒ qù kàn nǐ, hǎo ma?)
adv
(time) 以前 (yǐqián)
⇒ Have you been to Greece before?你以前去过希腊吗？ (Nǐ yǐqián qùguo Xīlà ma?)
before doing sth在做某事之前 (zài zuò mǒushì zhīqián)
the day/week before前一天/上一个(個)星期 (qián yī tiān/shàng yī gè xīngqī)
I've never seen it before我以前从(從)没(沒)见(見)过(過) (wǒ yǐqián cóng méi jiànguo)
All related terms of 'before'
before long
( future ) 不久 bùjiǔ ⇒ They're bound to catch him before long. → 不久，他们一定会抓到他。 Bùjiǔ, tāmen yīdìng huì zhuādào tā.
before then
在那之前 zài nà zhīqián
before doing sth
在做某事之前 zài zuò mǒushì zhīqián
before/after tax
税(稅)前/后(後) shuì qián/hòu
best-before date
( on food etc ) 保质(質)日期 bǎozhì rìqī
long before/after
很久以前/以后(後) hěn jiǔ yǐqián/yǐhòu
right before/after
刚(剛)好在之前/之后(後) gānghǎo zài zhīqián/zhīhòu
just before/after ...
就在 ... 以前/以后(後) jiùzài ... yǐqián/yǐhòu
the day before/after
前/后(後)一天 qián/hòu yī tiān
the day/week before
前一天/上一个(個)星期 qián yī tiān/shàng yī gè xīngqī
immediately before/after
紧(緊)接着(著) ... 之前/后(後) jǐnjiēzhe ... zhīqián/hòu
the night before last
前天晚上 qiántiān wǎnshang
the Tuesday before last
上上个(個)星期二 shàng shàng gè xīngqī'èr
before the week was out
在这(這)周(週)结(結)束前 zài zhè zhōu jiéshù qián
I've heard it all before
我早就听(聽)了多少遍了 wǒ zǎo jiù tīngle duōshǎo biàn le
shortly after/before sth
某事后(後)/前不久 mǒushì hòu/qián bùjiǔ
the day before yesterday
前天 qiántiān
I've never seen it before
我以前从(從)没(沒)见(見)过(過) wǒ yǐqián cóng méi jiànguo
he is now worse off than before
( in situation ) 他现(現)在的情况(況)比以前更糟糕 tā xiànzài de qíngkuàng bǐ yǐqián gèng zāogāo