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   before

   /bɪˈfɔː/

   adverb

   • 1. during the period of time preceding a particular event or time: "my playing days had ended six years before" Similar previouslybefore nowbefore thenuntil nowuntil thenup to nowup to thenearlierformerlyhithertoin the pastin days gone byrare:heretofore
   • 2. in front of someone or something: archaic "they began trotting through the city with guards running before and behind"

   conjunction

   • 1. in advance of the time when: "they lived rough for four days before they were arrested"
   • 2. in preference to (doing a particular thing): "they would die before they would cooperate with each other"

   preposition

   • 1. during the period of time preceding (a particular event or time): "she had to rest before dinner" Similar prior toprevious toearlier thanpreparatory toin preparation forpreliminary toin anticipation ofin expectation ofin advance ofahead ofleading up toon the eve ofrare:anterior toOpposite after
   • 2. in front of: "Matilda stood before her, panting" Similar in front ofin the presence ofin the sight ofbefore the very eyes ofunder the nose of
   • ▪ in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority): "he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment" Similar in front ofin the presence ofin the sight ofbefore the very eyes ofunder the nose of
   • 3. in preference to; rather than: "a skilled warrior who places duty before all else" Similar in preference torather thansooner thanaboveoverinstead of

   Word Origin Old Englishbeforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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