Before

  • 11before — be|fore1 W1S1 [bıˈfo: US ˈfo:r] conj 1.) earlier than a particular event or action ≠ ↑after ▪ Say goodbye before you go. ▪ I saw her a few days before she died. see usage note ↑ago 2.) so that something does not or cannot happen ▪ Put that money… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 12before — [[t]bɪfɔ͟ː(r)[/t]] ♦ (In addition to the uses shown below, before is used in the phrasal verbs go before and lay before .) 1) PREP If something happens before a particular date, time, or event, it happens earlier than that date, time, or event.… …

    English dictionary

  • 13before — be|fore [ bı fɔr ] function word *** Before can be used in the following ways: as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): Think carefully before you choose. as a preposition (followed by a noun): We ll finish the project before Christmas. as an… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 14before — 1 conjunction 1 earlier than the time when something happens: Say goodbye before you go. | It will be sometime before we know the full results. 2 so that something bad does not happen: Put that money somewhere safe before it gets stolen. | That… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 15before */*/*/ — UK [bɪˈfɔː(r)] / US [bɪˈfɔr] adverb, conjunction, preposition Summary: Before can be used in the following ways: as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): Think carefully before you choose. as a preposition (followed by a noun): We moved to… …

    English dictionary

  • 16before — I. adverb or adjective Etymology: Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English beforan, from be + foran before, from fore Date: before 12th century 1. in advance ; ahead < marching on before > 2. at an earlier time ; previously …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 17before — /bi fawr , fohr /, prep. 1. previous to; earlier or sooner than: Phone me before noon. 2. in front of; ahead of; in advance of: his shadow advancing before him; She stood before the window. 3. ahead of; in the future of; awaiting: The golden age&#8230; …

    Universalium

  • 18before — conj., prep., & adv. conj. 1 earlier than the time when (crawled before he walked). 2 rather than that (would starve before he stole). prep. 1 a in front of (before her in the queue). b ahead of (crossed the line before him). c under the impulse&#8230; …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 19before*/*/*/ — [bɪˈfɔː] grammar word summary: Before can be: ■ a conjunction: Think carefully before you choose. ■ a preposition: We ll finish the project before Christmas. ■ an adverb: I d met him once before. 1) earlier than something earlier than a&#8230; …

    Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • 20before — be•fore [[t]bɪˈfɔr, ˈfoʊr[/t]] prep. 1) previous to; earlier than: Call me before noon[/ex] 2) in front or ahead of: She stood before the window[/ex] 3) awaiting: The golden age is before us[/ex] 4) in preference to; rather than: They would die&#8230; …

    From formal English to slang