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
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
Cite this Entry
“Before.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/before. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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