preposition / conjunction / adverb
before
bih-FOR/bɪˈfɔːr/
Ahead of something in position or time.
The child washes his hands before sitting down to eat.
Etymology
Old English beforan expressed being in front in either position or time. Its temporal meaning treats an earlier event as standing ahead of another in an ordered sequence.
In context
probably evolved in a common ancestor at least 13 million years ago, before language, before fire, before anything we'd recognize as culture.
More examples
- The witnesses stand before the assembled committee.
- Please arrive before noon.
- I have seen that painting before.
Similar words
- earlier
- Expresses prior time but not position in front.
- ahead
- Can express forward position without the same grammatical uses.