Before — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb or adjective preposition conjunction adverb /bi-ˈfȯr/ be·fore

Meaning & Definition of Before

Before (adverb or adjective)

  1. in advance, ahead
  2. at an earlier time

Before (preposition)

  1. forward of, in front of
  2. in the presence of
  3. under the jurisdiction or consideration of

Before (conjunction)

  1. earlier than the time that
  2. sooner or quicker than
  3. so that … do not

Before (preposition) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. earlier than

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

    similar: afore (chiefly dialect), ahead of, ere, fore (chiefly dialect), of, previous to, prior to, to, in advance of
    related: till, until, up to
    opposite: after, following
    near: next, next to, since

  2. preceding in space

    "the children always insisted on running before their parents"

    similar: afore (chiefly dialect), ahead of, fore (chiefly dialect), in advance of, in front of
    related: against
    opposite: after, following

Before (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. so as to precede something in order of time

    "their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before"

    similar: afore (chiefly dialect), ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously, in advance
    related: a priori, early, prematurely, first, first off, now, before long, erelong (archaic), presently, shortly, soon
    opposite: after, afterward, later
    near: behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Related Entry: Before long (adverb)

Before long is a different word from Before. The synonyms below are for before long, not for before.

  1. at or within a short time

    "the painters ought to be done before long"

    similar: anon, by and by, directly, momentarily, presently, shortly, soon
    related: forthwith, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instantly, now, promptly, pronto, right away, right now, right off, straightaway, straightway

Related Entry: Accessory (noun)

Accessory is a different word from Before. The synonyms below are for accessory, not for before.

  1. something that is not necessary in itself but adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment

    "bought a new car with lots of high-tech accessories"

    similar: accoutrement, adapter, add-on, adjunct, appendage, appliance, attachment, option
    related: accompaniment, additive, complement, supplement, auxiliary, subsidiary, amenity, doodad, embroidery, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential, nonnecessity, appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, habiliment(s), paraphernalia, trappings, adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, garnish, ornament, trim, trimming
    near: essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

  2. one associated with another in wrongdoing

    "two accessories, the driver of the getaway car and the dishonest bank teller, were charged in the robbery case"

    similar: abettor, accomplice, cohort, confederate
    related: collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer, evidence, state's evidence, companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner, conspirator, plotter, traitor, gangster, mobster, racketeer

Related Entry: Wind (noun)

Wind is a different word from Before. The synonyms below are for wind, not for before.

  1. noticeable movement of air in a particular direction

    "there's a wind coming from underneath the front door"

    similar: current, draft
    related: blast, blow, flurry, gale, gust, headwind, squall, tailwind, tempest, tornado, windstorm, breath, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr

  2. a prevailing or general movement or inclination

    "the winds of public opinion are changing on this issue"

    similar: current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, trend
    related: curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside, custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow

  3. language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere

    "the speech contained nothing of substance and was just a lot of wind"

    similar: bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, oratory, rhetoric, verbiage
    related: claptrap, drivel, gibberish, hogwash, humbug, jabberwocky, jazz, moonshine, nonsense, affectedness, floweriness, grandiosity, loftiness, pomposity, pretension, pretentiousness, garrulity, garrulousness, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

Related Entry: Wind (noun)

Wind is a different word from Before. The synonyms below are for wind, not for before.

  1. something that curves or is curved

    "there's one last easterly wind to the river before it empties into the sea"

    similar: angle, arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curvature, curve, inflection, turn
    related: kink, warp, circle, ring, ringlet, round, coil, curl, curlicue, buckle, convolution, flexure, fold, loop, spiral, swirl, twist, winding, incurvature, reflection, decline, inclination, incline, slope, corner, turnoff, dogleg, hairpin

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Before

The most common words with a similar meaning to Before:

Chiefly dialect: afore, fore
ahead of, ere, of, previous to, prior to, to, in advance of, in front of, ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously, in advance

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Before

Words with the opposite meaning of Before:

after, following, afterward, later

Related Words for Before

till, until, up to, against, a priori, early, prematurely, first, first off, now, before long, erelong, presently, shortly, soon

Near Antonyms of Before

next, next to, since, behind, by and by, subsequently

Origin & Etymology of Before

Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran before, from fore

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Before

Words & Phrases Containing Before

before long, before the mast, before the wind, before bed, before one can blink, before one knows it, before one's time

Frequently Asked Questions about Before

What does "Before" mean?

"Before" means in advance, ahead. As an an adverb or adjective, a preposition, a conjunction and an adverb, it is defined as: in advance, ahead. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Before"?

Other words for "Before" include afore, ahead of, ere, fore, of, previous to, prior to and to. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Before" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Before"?

There are 35 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Before". Common alternatives include afore, ahead of, ere, fore, of, previous to, prior to, to, in advance of and in front of.

What is the opposite of "Before"?

Antonyms of "Before" include after, following, afterward and later. Near antonyms include next, next to, since and behind.

How do you use "Before" in a sentence?

Examples of "Before" in a sentence: "since I'm a faster runner, I got there before him"; "the children always insisted on running before their parents"; "their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before".

Is "Before" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Before" can be used as an adverb or adjective, a preposition, a conjunction and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Before" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Before" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Before"?

"Before" is pronounced /bi-ˈfȯr/ and divided into syllables as be·fore.