|
be·fore [ bi fáwr ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word indicating that a point in time, event, or situation precedes another in a sequence
  (prep) We try all of the products before deciding to stock them.
(conj) We lost a lot of manufacturing jobs in the 12 years before I became president.
(conj) She died at the hospital before her parents could reach her side.
(adv) They had left the subway terminal perhaps twenty minutes before.
(adv) He has had this nightmare before. |
| Definition: |
| |
1. preposition earlier: earlier than a date, time, or event
|
2. preposition indicates sequence: used to indicate a sequence of actions, one preceding the other and closely connected with it
|
3. preposition in presence of: in the presence of a person or body of people
spoke before a huge crowd
|
4. preposition with more importance than: indicating that one thing is preferable to or more important than another
Their needs come before yours.
|
5. preposition indicates location: located close to something but just ahead of it
|
6. preposition ahead of: stretching ahead of somebody
|
7. adverb previously: on a previous occasion
|
8. conj rather than: used to indicate that somebody would prefer to do one thing rather than what he or she considers to be a worse thing
I'll die before I'll tell you anything about it.
|
| [ Old English beforan< Germanic] |
