before
1 of 3adverb or adjective
be·fore
bi-ˈfȯr 
bē-
1
: in advance : ahead
marching on before
2
: at an earlier time
the night before
knew her 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
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
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
Examples of before in a Sentence
Adverb or adjective
their arrival was completely expected because a messenger had gone before
Preposition
We arrived shortly before six o'clock.
He left just before sunrise.
I've never seen her so happy before now.
Call me before your arrival.
She arrived the day before yesterday.
Why haven't you ever helped me before now?
Your name is listed before mine.
You'll see my house just before the bank and after the school.
The Great Plains stretched endlessly before them.
The championship fight took place before a crowd of thousands.
Conjunction
He left long before morning came.
Say goodbye before you go.
Call me before you arrive.
I finished the exam before he did.
It was not long before he arrived.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
The shelter wasn’t sure Iris had enough milk left from weaning her kittens a week before.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
That game was also one of two times, before Friday, that the Cubs allowed 10 runs in an inning and won.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before
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Adverb or adjective
White returned to Buffalo with the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round, and his former teammates and coaches greeted him warmly before and after the game.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
The shelter wasn’t sure Iris had enough milk left from weaning her kittens a week before.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Preposition
And in court documents filed April 17, the day before the court hearing, Combs' legal team presented their case for excluding from the trial footage of Combs attacking then-girlfriend Cassie.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
That game was also one of two times, before Friday, that the Cubs allowed 10 runs in an inning and won.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before
Cite this Entry
“Before.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/before. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
before
1 of 3 adverb
be·fore
bi-ˈfō(ə)r
-ˈfȯ(ə)r
1
: in advance : ahead
go on before
2
: at an earlier time
was here before
before
2 of 3 preposition1
a
: forward of : in front of
stood before a mirror
b
: in the presence of
spoke before the legislature
2
: under the consideration of
the case before the court
3
: earlier than
got there before me
come before six
before
3 of 3 conjunction1
: earlier than the time when
think before you speak
2
: more willingly than
I'd starve before I'd steal
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