Dictionary
be•fore
Pronunciation: (bi-fôr', -fōr'), [key]—
prep.
1. previous to; earlier or sooner than:
Phone me before noon.
2. in front of; ahead of; in advance of:
his shadow advancing before him; She stood before the window.
3. ahead of; in the future of; awaiting:
The golden age is before us.
4. in preference to; rather than:
They would die before surrendering.
5. in precedence of, as in order or rank:
We put freedom before wealth.
6. in the presence or sight of: to
appear before an audience.
7. less than; until: used in indicating the exact time:
It's ten before three.
8. under the jurisdiction or consideration of:
He was summoned before a magistrate.
9. confronted by; in the face of:
Before such wild accusations, he was too stunned to reply.
10. in the regard of:
a crime before God and humanity.
11. under the overwhelming influence of:
bending before the storm.
12. without figuring or deducting:
income before deductions.
—
adv.
1. in front; in advance; ahead:
The king entered with macebearers walking before.
2. in time preceding; previously:
If we'd known before, we'd have let you know.
3. earlier or sooner:
Begin at noon, not before.
—
conj.
1. previous to the time when:
Send the telegram before we go.
2. sooner than; rather than:
I will die before I submit. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
