before

[bih-fawr, -fohr] / bɪˈfɔr, -ˈfoʊr /

ADVERB

earlier

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ahead back previously since sooner

WEAK

afore aforetime ante antecedently anteriorly before present ere fore former formerly forward heretofore in advance in days of yore in front in the old days in the past past precendently previous up to now

Antonyms

WEAK

after afterward behind later

PREPOSITION

earlier than

Synonyms

STRONGEST

since

WEAK

ahead of ante antecedent to anterior to ere in advance of in front of preceding previous to prior to

Antonyms

WEAK

after afterward behind later

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Retail prices started falling beginning in October, with the biggest drops before Black Friday, Harvard’s Cavallo said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rwanda denies supporting M23 and says its troops are in eastern Congo for “defensive measures” against a rebel group formed by Hutu extremists who orchestrated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda before fleeing to Congo.

From The Wall Street Journal

Besides, US oil firms have been bitten by Venezuela once before.

From BBC

Wins have dried up in recent years, and he started this season's tour with a missed cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, before exploding back into form at Pebble Beach.

From Barron's

Rubio arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening, and was due to hold talks with Orban on Monday morning before flying back to Washington.

From Barron's

before

Example Sentences

Related Words