before
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++be·fore1 /bɪˈfɔː $ -ˈfɔːr/ ●●● S1 W1 conjunction 1 BEFOREearlier than a particular event or action 在…以前 OPP after Say goodbye before you go. 你走之前要告别。 I saw her a few days before she died. 她去世的前几天我见过她。2 PREVENTso that something does not or cannot happen 在…发生之前，以防 Put that money somewhere safe before it gets stolen. 把那些钱放在安全的地方，以防被窃。 That dog ought to be destroyed before it attacks any more children. 那条狗应该宰掉，免得它伤害更多的孩子。 Before I could say anything more, Holmes had rushed off towards the station. 没等我把话说完，福尔摩斯已经急匆匆离去，直奔车站了。3 used to say that something happens after a period of time …之后才 It was several minutes before we realised what was happening. 几分钟以后我们才明白发生了什么事情。 It will be a while before we know the results. 我们要过一会儿才能知道结果。4 used to say that something must happen in order for something else to be possible 在…之前〔必须做某事〕，…之后才能 You have to pass a test before you can get a licence. 你得通过考试才能拿到执照。5 THREATEN spoken used to warn someone that something bad will happen to them if they do not do something 要不然，否则〔表示警告〕 Get out before I call the police! 滚出去，要不然我叫警察了！6 BEFOREused to emphasize that someone does not want to do something 〔宁可…〕也不愿 She would die before she would admit she was wrong. 她死也不肯承认自己有错。5 GRAMMAR 语法• In a clause beginning with before that refers to the future, use the present tense or present perfect, not 'will' 在以before开头的表示将来的分句中，要用现在式或现在完成式，而不用willI want to get home before it rains (NOT before it will rain).我想在下雨前赶回家。n GRAMMAR: Choosing the right tenseYou use the present simple with before to talk about a future event. Don’t use ‘will’. You say: I want to get home before it rains. 我想在下雨前赶回家。 ✗Don’t say: before it will rain
Examples from the Corpus
before• We don't know how long it'll be before I get the cast off my arm.• Take that dog indoors before it bites somebody.• Lock up your bike before it gets stolen.• There's a lot to do before we can submit the proposal.• It will be a few days before we know the full results.• Before you get angry, try and remember what it was like to be fifteen.• Anthony wants to see you before you go.before2 ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 BEFOREearlier than something or someone 〔时间上〕在…以前 OPP after The new road should be completed before the end of the year. 这条新公路应该在年底前完工。 Let’s meet at our house before the show. 看演出前在我们家碰头吧。 Larry arrived home before me. 拉里在我之前到家。five minutes/two hours etc before something Hugh arrived just five minutes before the ceremony. 修在仪式开始前五分钟才到。before doing something I usually take a shower before having my breakfast. 我通常先洗个澡再吃早餐。 We only got back from Scotland the day before yesterday (=two days ago). 我们前天才从苏格兰回来。 Other students joined in the protest, and before long (=soon) there was a crowd of 200 or so. 其他学生也加入了抗议队伍，不久就有200人左右了。2 BEFOREahead of someone or something else in a list or order 〔名单或次序上〕较…为先，在…之前 OPP after You were before me in the queue. 你排在我前面。 The files are in alphabetical order, so B1 comes before C1. 文件是按字母顺序摆放的，所以B1在C1之前。3 FRONTused to say that something happens where it can be watched by people 在…面前，当着…的面 SYN in front of Italy will face Brazil this afternoon before a crowd of 100,000 spectators. 今天下午意大利队将在10万名观众面前迎战巴西队。 an actor who had performed before the Queen 曾在女王面前献演的一名演员4 SHOW/LET somebody SEE somethingused to say that someone or something comes to be judged or considered by a person or group of people 摆在…面前；供…考虑5 IMPORTANTused to say that one thing or person is considered more important than another 〔重要性〕在…之前，比…更重要6 formalFRONT in front of something or someone 在…前面7 FRONTif one place is before another place on a road or journey, the first place is nearer to you than the second, so you will reach it first 〔路上或旅途中的某个地方〕在〔另一个地方〕前面 OPP after8 formalDO if there is a job or situation before you, you will have to do the job or face the situation 〔工作或局面〕摆在…面前 SYN ahead of9 formalBEFORE if a period of time is before you, it is about to start and you can do what you want during it 〔指一段时间〕临近 SYN in front of THESAURUSbefore earlier than something or someone 〔时间上〕在…以前She could read before she started school. 她在上学前就会阅读了。Do you want to have a shower before me? 你想在我之前先洗澡吗？prior to formal before something happens 早于，先于Please arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure. 请在飞机起飞前两小时到达机场。by no later than a particular time or date 在〔某一特定时间或日期〕之前，不迟于The children are usually in bed by 9 o'clock. 孩子们一般在9点钟之前上床。nWe have to be out of our hotel room by 10 o'clock.earlier before now, or before the time you are talking about 早些时候，早先I saw her earlier. 我先前见过她的。I had sent the letter earlier in the week. 那个星期早些时候我把信寄出了。previously before now, or before a time in the past 以前，先前He previously worked as an electrician. 他以前做过电工。nThe show starred a previously unknown actress called Jennifer Aniston.in advance before something happens – used especially when talking about the arrangements for something 预先，提前〔尤用于某事的安排〕Let me know in advance if you are going to be late. 你要晚到的话提前告诉我。The landlord wants three months’ rent in advance. 房东要求预付三个月的租金。beforehand (also ahead of time) before something happens, especially so that you are ready 事先，预先〔尤指便于准备〕I wish we had known about all this beforehand. 要是我们预先知道这一切就好了。nIt’s always best to decide beforehand how much you want to pay. Examples from the Corpus
before• Call me back before 5.30.• My son is most important - he comes before anyone.• I visited them just before Christmas.• Our daughter was born just before Christmas.• No cookies before dinner, Andy.• Islington station is one stop before Finsbury Park on the Victoria Line.• You should go, before John gets back.• I think you were before me in line, weren't you?• Denise got there before me.• Quality should come before quantity.• The priest knelt before the altar.• She gave a presentation before the board of directors.• The proposal came before the city council a year ago.• She trembled before the prospect of meeting him again.• Turn left just before the traffic lights.• The highway stretched out before them.• We had the whole summer before us.• This lady was before you, sir.before doing something• We lived in Ogden before moving to Salt Lake City.before3 ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1 BEFOREat an earlier time 先前，从前，以前2 the day/week/month etc before the previous day, week, month etc 前一天/一个星期/一个月等 OPP after3 FRONT old use ahead of someone or something else 在前面Examples from the Corpus
before• I've never been to this restaurant before.• I had never seen such an ugly baby before.• I know I've seen him somewhere before.• Sheila and I became friends in 1995, although we had actually met several years before.• The king's guards walked before.• Wendell had never been on a plane before.• But Garvey and Lucie had to clown more than before.• This was a different Fernando from the one she had loved so passionately before.Origin before2 Old English beforan, from foran “before”, from fore; → FORE-be·fore1 conjunction →5 GRAMMAR1 →n GRAMMAR2before2 preposition →THESAURUS1before3 adverbLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
than or event earlier a action particular Corpus
before
be‧fore1 S1 W1 /bɪˈfɔː $ -ˈfɔːr/ 
conjunction
1. earlier than a particular event or action
OPP after:
Say goodbye before you go.
I saw her a few days before she died.
2. so that something does not or cannot happen:
Put that money somewhere safe before it gets stolen.
That dog ought to be destroyed before it attacks any more children.
Before I could say anything more, Holmes had rushed off towards the station.
3. used to say that something happens after a period of time:
It was several minutes before we realised what was happening.
It will be a while before we know the results.
4. used to say that something must happen in order for something else to be possible:
You have to pass a test before you can get a licence.
5. spoken used to warn someone that something bad will happen to them if they do not do something:
Get out before I call the police!
6. used to emphasize that someone does not want to do something:
She would die before she would admit she was wrong.
GRAMMAR
In a clause beginning with before that refers to the future, use the present tense or present perfect, not 'will':
▪I want to get home before it rains (NOT before it will rain).
before2 S1 W1 preposition1. earlier than something or someone
OPP after:
The new road should be completed before the end of the year.
Let’s meet at our house before the show.
Larry arrived home before me.
five minutes/two hours etc before something
Hugh arrived just five minutes before the ceremony.
before doing something
I usually take a shower before having my breakfast.
We only got back from Scotland the day before yesterday (=two days ago).
Other students joined in the protest, and before long (=soon) there was a crowd of 200 or so.
2. ahead of someone or something else in a list or order
OPP after:
You were before me in the queue.
The files are in alphabetical order, so B1 comes before C1.
3. used to say that something happens where it can be watched by people
SYN in front of:
Italy will face Brazil this afternoon before a crowd of 100,000 spectators.
an actor who had performed before the Queen
4. used to say that someone or something comes to be judged or considered by a person or group of people:
The proposal was put before the planning committee.
5. used to say that one thing or person is considered more important than another:
I put my wife and kids before anyone else.
In the air transport business, safety must always come before profit.
6. formal in front of something or someone:
The priest stood before the altar.
The sea stretched out before them.
7. if one place is before another place on a road or journey, the first place is nearer to you than the second, so you will reach it first
OPP after:
The pub is 100 m before the church on the right.
the last station before the Simplon Tunnel
8. formal if there is a job or situation before you, you will have to do the job or face the situation
SYN ahead of:
The task of emptying the house lay before us.
9. formal if a period of time is before you, it is about to start and you can do what you want during it
SYN in front of:
We had a glorious summer afternoon before us to do as we pleased.
You have your whole life before you.
▪ before earlier than something or someone: She could read before she started school. | Do you want to have a shower before me?
▪prior to formal before something happens: Please arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure.
▪by no later than a particular time or date: The children are usually in bed by 9 o'clock. | We have to be out of our hotel room by 10 o'clock.
▪earlier before now, or before the time you are talking about: I saw her earlier. | I had sent the letter earlier in the week.
▪previously before now, or before a time in the past: He previously worked as an electrician. | The show starred a previously unknown actress called Jennifer Aniston.
▪in advance before something happens – used especially when talking about the arrangements for something: Let me know in advance if you are going to be late. | The landlord wants three months’ rent in advance.
▪beforehand (also ahead of time ) before something happens, especially so that you are ready: I wish we had known about all this beforehand. | It’s always best to decide beforehand how much you want to pay.
before3 S1 W1 adverb
1. at an earlier time:
Haven’t I met you before somewhere?
Never before had he seen so many people starving.
She looked just the same as before.
2. the day/week/month etc before the previous day, week, month etc
OPP after:
She was in Paris last week and in Rome the week before.
3. old use ahead of someone or something else:
The king’s herald walked before.
| I |
conjunction1. earlier than a particular event or action
OPP after:
2. so that something does not or cannot happen:
3. used to say that something happens after a period of time:
4. used to say that something must happen in order for something else to be possible:
5. spoken used to warn someone that something bad will happen to them if they do not do something:
6. used to emphasize that someone does not want to do something:
GRAMMAR
In a clause beginning with before that refers to the future, use the present tense or present perfect, not 'will':
▪
| II |
preposition1. earlier than something or someone OPP after:
five minutes/two hours etc before something
before doing something
2. ahead of someone or something else in a list or order
OPP after:
3. used to say that something happens where it can be watched by people
SYN in front of:
4. used to say that someone or something comes to be judged or considered by a person or group of people:
5. used to say that one thing or person is considered more important than another:
6. formal in front of something or someone:
7. if one place is before another place on a road or journey, the first place is nearer to you than the second, so you will reach it first
OPP after:
8. formal if there is a job or situation before you, you will have to do the job or face the situation
SYN ahead of:
9. formal if a period of time is before you, it is about to start and you can do what you want during it
SYN in front of:
| THESAURUS |
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| III |
adverb1. at an earlier time:
2. the day/week/month etc before the previous day, week, month etc
OPP after:
3. old use ahead of someone or something else:
rather