before

preposition
UK: /bɪˈfɔː/
US: /bɪˈfɔːr/

  1. Earlier than something else, in time.

    1. I woke up before my alarm clock rang this morning. [ ] [ ]
    2. The dinosaurs lived on Earth long before humans existed on the planet. [ ] [ ]

  2. In front of something or someone.

    1. She stood before the judge to present her case calmly. [ ] [ ]
    2. The protesters gathered before the embassy to voice their concerns about the new policies. [ ] [ ]

  3. Rather than; instead of.

    1. I would choose coffee before tea any day of the week. [ ] [ ]
    2. He decided to quit his job before his mental health was negatively affected by the stress. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

prior to ahead of
before adverb

  1. Earlier in time.

    1. I had finished all my tasks before the deadline. [ ] [ ]
    2. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you head out on your hiking trip. [ ] [ ]

  2. In front; ahead.

    1. The path stretched out before us, long and winding. [ ] [ ]
    2. We had many challenges before us, but we felt confident that we could overcome them with teamwork. [ ] [ ]
before conjunction

  1. Used to introduce a clause expressing something that must happen or be true in order for something else to happen or be true.

    1. Think before you speak to avoid hurting someone's feelings. [ ] [ ]
    2. You should always backup your important data before your computer crashes unexpectedly. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "before" in English means: Earlier than something else, in time., In front of something or someone., Rather than; instead of..

The phonetic transcription of "before" is /bɪˈfɔː/ in British English and /bɪˈfɔːr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "before": prior to, ahead of.

Example usage of "before": "I woke up before my alarm clock rang this morning.". More examples on the page.