First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1before
adverb or adjective be·fore \bi-ˈfȯr, bē-\
: at an earlier time
: to or toward the place where someone is going : in advance
Full Definition of BEFORE
1
: in advance : ahead <marching on before>
2
: at an earlier time <the night before> <knew her before>
See before defined for English-language learners
See before defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of BEFORE
Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran before, from fore
Rhymes with BEFORE
abhor, adore, afore, and/or, as for, ashore, backdoor, bailor, bandore, Bangor, bedsore, bezoar, bookstore, box score, but for, call for, candor, captor, centaur, chain store, claymore, closed-door, cold sore, cold store, condor, Côte d'Or, decor, deplore, dime-store, Dior, done for, donor, downpour, drugstore, Dutch door, encore, ephor, explore, eyesore, fall for, feoffor, fetor, Fillmore, first floor, flexor, folklore, footsore, foreshore, fourscore, French door, full-bore, Gabor, galore, Glen More, go for, ground floor, gun for, hard-core, hog score, ichor, ignore, implore, Indore, indoor, in for, inshore, in-store, Kotor, Lahore, lakeshore, lector, lee shore, lessor, line score, look for, Luxor, memoir, mentor, Mysore, nearshore, Nestor, next-door, offshore, onshore, outdoor, outpour, phosphor, psywar, rancor, rapport, raptor, raw score, Realtor, restore, rhetor, savior, seafloor, seashore, sector, seignior, Senghor, senhor, sensor, settlor, Seymour, signor, smoothbore, s'more, soft-core, sophomore, stand for, stentor, stertor, storm door, Strathmore, stressor, stridor, subfloor, swear for, Tagore, take for, temblor, tensor, therefor, therefore, threescore, Timor, trapdoor, turgor, uproar, vendor, what's more, wherefore, wild boar, woodlore, z-score
2before
preposition
: at a time preceding (something or someone) : earlier than (something or someone)
—used to describe a time earlier than a specified hour
: preceding (something or someone) in order or in a series
Full Definition of BEFORE
1
a (1) : forward of : in front of <stood before the fire> (2) : in the presence of <speaking before the conference> b : under the jurisdiction or consideration of <the case before the court> c (1) : at the disposal of <the great sums placed before him> (2) : in store for <got the whole summer before you>
2
: preceding in time : earlier than <just before noon>
3
: in a higher or more important position than <put quantity before quality>
See before defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BEFORE
before 12th century
3before
conjunction
: earlier than the time that : earlier than when
: until the time that
—used to refer to something that might happen
Full Definition of BEFORE
1
a (1) : earlier than the time that <call me before you go> (2) : sooner or quicker than <I'll be done before you know it> (3) : so that … do not <get out of there before you get dirty> b : until the time that <miles to go before I sleep — Robert Frost> c (1) : or else … not <must be convicted before he can be removed from office> (2) : or else <get out of here before I call a cop>
2
: rather or sooner than <would starve before he'd steal>
See before defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BEFORE
13th century
BEFORE Defined for Kids
1before
adverb be·fore \bi-ˈfȯr\
Definition of BEFORE for Kids
1
: at an earlier time <I've been here before.>
2
: ahead <go on before>
2before
preposition
Definition of BEFORE for Kids
1
: in front of <He stood before a mirror.>
2
: earlier than <You got there before me.>
3
: before in order <Your name is listed before mine.>
4
: in the presence of <She spoke before a crowd.>
3before
conjunction
Definition of BEFORE for Kids
1
: ahead of the time when <Wash before you eat.>
2
: sooner or quicker than <I'll be done before you know it.>
3
: more willingly than <I'd starve before I'd steal.>
4
: until the time that <It wasn't long before he caught on.>
Learn More About BEFORE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: beforehandPrevious Word in the Dictionary: befoolAll Words Near: before
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up before? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).