Before
prepositionAt a time earlier than a particular event or moment; in front of in time or sequence.
How to spell before
6 letters · 2 syllables
How to pronounce before
Say the part in capitals loudest.
What does before mean?
- prepositionAt a time earlier than a particular event or moment; in front of in time or sequence.
Before in a sentence
-
Please call me before you leave.
-
Brush your teeth before bed.
Where does before come from?
Language of origin: Germanic
This is a native English word, descending from the Old English biforan, which combined the prefix be- (meaning 'by' or 'at') with foran (meaning 'in front' or 'to the front'). The fore element is the same one that survives in words like forehead, forecast, and foremost, all carrying the idea of being at the front or ahead. Originally the word leaned heavily on the spatial sense of standing physically in front of something, and only gradually did the temporal sense (earlier in time) become the dominant everyday meaning. The spelling settled into its modern shape during the Middle English period, and the trap for adult writers is purely the unstressed first syllable: it sounds like 'buh', tempting some to drop or muddle the e and write 'befor' or 'b'fore'.
How the word is built
- be- (by, at)
- fore (front, earlier in time)
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