Antonyms for before
| Grammar : Adv, prep |
| Spell : bih-fawr, -fohr |
| Phonetic Transcription : bɪˈfɔr, -ˈfoʊr |
Definition of before
Origin :- Old English beforan "before, in front of, in the presence of, in former times," from Proto-Germanic *bi- "by" + *forana "from the front," adverbial derivative of *fora (see for). Cf. Old Frisian bifara, Old Saxon biforan, Old High German bifora, German bevor. Contrasting before and after in illustrations is from Hogarth (1768). Before the mast in old sailing ships denoting "common sailor," is from the place of their berths, in front of the fore-mast.
- adv earlier
- prep earlier than
- Come, before he comes to gibe us for having heeded a moment.
- Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
- He had discovered years before that he was sometimes able thus to puzzle her momentarily.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Sit here, and we'll talk it over sensibly, before you get ready.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- I can give you an hour, if you've anything to say before it's done—not longer.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Written years before, at the time of publication he was thirty-three.
- Extract from : « 'Tis Sixty Years Since » by Charles Francis Adams
- You have seen the Greek word "phone," which means the voice, before.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
- But before you start to read let me explain what I intend to do.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
- You've come to torment us before the time; do cease this noise!
- Extract from : « Harriet, The Moses of Her People » by Sarah H. Bradford
- But the Egyptians heard of this and guarded the Jews more carefully than ever before.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
- He now owned a great deal of water-front, twice as much as before.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
Synonyms for before
- afore
- aforetime
- ahead
- ahead of
- ante
- antecedent to
- antecedently
- anterior to
- anteriorly
- back
- before present
- ere
- fore
- former
- formerly
- forward
- gone
- gone by
- heretofore
- in advance
- in advance of
- in days of yore
- in front
- in front of
- in old days
- in the past
- past
- preceding
- precendently
- previous
- previous to
- previously
- prior to
- since
- sooner
- up to now
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019