Etymology

Preposition

1. Earlier than (in time).
   • I want this done before Monday.
   • So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline? - Robert DeNiro, Backdraft
2. In front of in space.

   He stood before me.

3. Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone)

   The case laid before the panel aroused nothing but ridicule

4. In store for, in the future of (someone).

   The period before us looks grim because if the economical crisis.

5. In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.

   In alphabetical order, "cat" comes before "dog", "canine" before feline".

6. At a higher or greater position in a subjective ranking

   An entrepreneur puts market share and profit before quality, an amateur intrinsic qualities before economical considerations

Synonyms

• (earlier than in time): by, no later than
• (in front of in space): ahead of, in front of
• (in front of according to an ordering system): ahead of

Antonyms

• (earlier than in time): after, later than
• (in front of in space): behind
• (in front of according to an ordering system): after

Adverb

1. at an earlier time

   I've never done this before.

2. in advance

Conjunction

1. in advance of the time when
2. rather or sooner than