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Before Very Common

Origin: Germanic Old English prefix

Before has 5 different meanings across 3 categories:

Adverb · Prep · Conj

Definitions
Adverb
1

earlier in time; previously

"I had known her before"

"as I said before"

"he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier"

"her parents had died four years earlier"

"I mentioned that problem earlier"

2

at or in the front

"I see the lights of a town ahead"

"the road ahead is foggy"

"staring straight ahead"

"we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front"

"with the cross of Jesus marching on before"

3

At an earlier time.

"Please finish your homework before you go out to play."

Prep
1

Earlier than (in time).

"She arrived at the party before her friends."

Conj
1

In advance of the time when.

"Please arrive at least ten minutes before the meeting starts."

Example Sentences
"I had known her before" adverb
"as I said before" adverb
"he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier" adverb
"her parents had died four years earlier" adverb
"I mentioned that problem earlier" adverb
"I see the lights of a town ahead" adverb
"the road ahead is foggy" adverb
"staring straight ahead" adverb
"we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front" adverb
"with the cross of Jesus marching on before" adverb
See Also
morning evening eight first stretch may march past
Related Terms
morning evening eight first stretch may march past egg record question engagement one former after wash thunder ago ebit premitotic

Origin

The word "before" comes from Middle English and Old English roots meaning "in front of." Its ultimate origin traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *per-, which also means "front."

Rhyming Words
ore nore yore core tore vore sore fore dore more kore wore bore pore gore hore lore rore prore whore
Compare
Before vs