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Definition of before conjunction from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

before

conjunction
 
 
/bɪˈfɔː(r)/
 
/bɪˈfɔːr/
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  1.  
     earlier than the time when
    • Do it before you forget.
    • Did she leave a message before she went?
    • Before I made a decision, I thought carefully about it.
    Topics Timea2
  2.  
     until
    • It may be many years before the situation improves.
    • It was some time before I realized the truth.
  3.  
     used to warn or threaten somebody that something bad could happen
    • Put that away before it gets broken.
  4. (formal) rather than
    • I'd die before I apologized!
    5. Word OriginOld English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.
See before in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee before in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: before

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
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