before

Meaning

1. Earlier than (in time).
2. In front of in space.
3. In the presence of.
4. Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
5. In store for, in the future of (someone).
6. In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.
7. At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.

in front of

previously

previous to

earlier than

in the past

in ancient times

in the presence of

preceding

once

some time ago

in the old days

on the eve of

more than

the day before

in the presence

while not yet

former times

go before

erst

before it becomes

in public eye

previously day

that time ago

to somebody’s face

alongside of

before the eyes

previous to this

a long time before

inadvance

ahead last

past first

not later than

a long time ago

at the head

before then

from under

in former times

in the beginning

never before

long time ago

a moment ago

and then

a while ago

back then

before one’s very eyes

come first

day before

in one’s way

in preference to

in presence of

not enough

sooner than

this side

bow down to

until then

whole

ex-

relative time

Frequency

Hyphenated as

be‧fore

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈfɔː/

Inherited from Middle English before／bifore, from Old English beforan, from be- + foran (“before”), from fore, from Proto-Germanic *furai, from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“front”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian befoar (“before”), German Low German bevör (“before”), German bevor (“before”).