before
beforepreposition
UK/bɪˈfɔː/US/bɪˈfɔːr/
EARLIER
A1earlier than something or someone
- Wash your hands before dinner.
- She got there before me.
IN FRONT OF
B1in front of or ahead of someone or something
- He came before the judge.
- Your name comes before mine in the list.
beforeconjunction
UK/bɪˈfɔː/US/bɪˈfɔːr/
A2earlier than the time when something happens
- Turn off the lights before you leave.
- Before I came here, I lived in Bangkok.
beforeadverb
UK/bɪˈfɔː/US/bɪˈfɔːr/
A2at an earlier time; in the past
- Have you been to Rome before?
- I'd never seen her before.