Definition Definition

before - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'before' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Before [ adv.]
- On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; -- opposed to in the rear.
- In advance.
- In time past; previously; already.
- Earlier; sooner than; until then.
2 . Before [ prep.]
- In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.
- Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.
- An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
- Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.
- In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
- Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
- Open for; free of access to; in the power of.

Meaning of 'before' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . before [ r]
Meaning (1):
- earlier in time; previously
Example in sentence:
  • 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 had known her before;
  • I mentioned that problem earlier
Meaning (2):
- at or in the front
Example in sentence:
  • I see the lights of a town ahead;
  • staring straight ahead;
  • the road ahead is foggy;
  • we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front;
  • with the cross of Jesus marching on before