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

before

adverb
 
 
/bɪˈfɔː(r)/
 
/bɪˈfɔːr/
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  1. at an earlier time; in the past; already
    • You should have told me so before.
    • It had been fine the week before (= the previous week).
    • That had happened long before (= a long time earlier).
    • I think we've met before.
    Topics Timea2
    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

indeed
adverb
 
 
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