The word before comes from the Old English beforan, meaning “in front of” or “in former times.” Before tells when something happens — don’t hire that guy before you check his references — or the position of something: the library is the last building before the intersection.

When one thing precedes another, it comes before. You put your socks on before your shoes, you close the door before you lock it, and you should make sure the store is open before you leave home.

The meaning of BEFORE is in advance : ahead. How to use before in a sentence.

BEFORE definition: 1. at or during a time earlier than (the thing mentioned): 2. until (the event mentioned): 3. in…. Learn more.

Define before. before synonyms, before pronunciation, before translation, English dictionary definition of before. adv. 1. Earlier in time: They called me the day before.

Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connexion—or rather as a transition from the subject that started their conversation—such talk had been distressingly out of place.

before /bɪˈfɔː/ conj (subordinating) earlier than the time when rather than: he'll resign before he agrees to it prep preceding in space or time; in front of; ahead of: standing before the altar in the presence of: to be brought before a judge in preference to: to put friendship before money adv at an earlier time; previously; beforehand; in front adj belong to the period that preceded a ...