before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
English
~ 1600
előtt, mielőtt, korábban
A1
1
előtt
A1
Usage pattern:
before [time/event/action]
We need to finish this before noon.
Ezt be kell fejeznünk dél előtt.
She called me before the party started.
Felhívott a buli kezdete előtt.
I always stretch before running.
He left the office before the boss arrived.
Learner examples
I brush my teeth before bed.
Lefekvés előtt megmosom a fogam.
Wash your hands before eating.
Moss kezet evés előtt.
I drink coffee before work.
He studies before the exam.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
Meaning
Earlier than something in time
Collocations
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
Synonyms
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
Earlier than a particular time, event, or action.
A2
2
mielőtt
A2
Usage pattern:
[event] before [event]
Think carefully before you decide.
Gondold át alaposan, mielőtt döntesz.
I had never seen her before I came here.
Mielőtt idejöttem, még soha nem láttam őt.
Turn off the lights before you leave.
He knocked before entering the room.
Learner examples
Wash your hands before you eat.
Moss kezet, mielőtt enni kezdesz.
Look both ways before you cross the road.
Nézz balra és jobbra, mielőtt átmész az úton.
Finish your homework before you play games.
Call me before you come.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
Meaning
Earlier than another event
Collocations
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
Synonyms
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
Antonyms
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
Themes
time
|daily life
|communication
Definition
Used to say one thing happens earlier than another thing.
Used to introduce a clause describing an event that happens earlier than another event.
A2
3
korábban
A2
I have met him before.
Találkoztam már vele korábban.
We spoke on the phone before.
Korábban beszéltünk telefonon.
Never before had I felt so nervous.
I’ve been here once before.
Learner examples
I saw this movie before.
Láttam már korábban ezt a filmet.
She was here before.
Korábban már itt volt.
I ate there before.
We met before.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
Meaning
At an earlier time
Collocations
long before
|never before
|seen before
Synonyms
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
Antonyms
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
Themes
time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
At a time earlier than now or another time mentioned.
At an earlier time than the present or than a specified point in time.
B1
4
előtt
A1
Usage pattern:
before [person/object]
He stood nervously before the audience.
Idegesen állt a közönség előtt.
The number 3 comes before 4.
A 3-as a 4-es előtt következik.
She appeared before the committee.
There were two people ahead of me, but I was before them in the list.
Learner examples
The dog is before the house.
A kutya a ház előtt van.
B comes before C in the alphabet.
A B a C előtt áll az ábécében.
He stood before me in line.
The man is standing before the door.
Common mistake:
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
Meaning
Ahead in position or order
Collocations
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
Synonyms
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
Antonyms
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
Themes
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In front of something or someone, or ahead in a list or order.
In front of someone or something in space, or ahead of them in order or rank.
Grammar
Dictionary form
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
be - fore (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
Word family
Expressions
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
Examples
- The building collapsed right before our eyes.
- Before my eyes, the caterpillar became a butterfly.
think before you speak
1/θˈɪŋk bɪfˈɔɹ jˈu spˈik/
fixed phrase
Consider words before speaking
To stop and think about what you will say so you do not hurt or upset someone.
Examples
- You should think before you speak to avoid hurting feelings.
- He never thinks before he speaks and often regrets it.
before long
1/bɪfˈɔɹ lˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
Soon; in a short time from now
Not much time will pass before something happens.
Examples
- Before long, she will be running her own company.
- You’ll hear from them before long.
before long
2/bɪfˈɔɹ lˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
Soon after now or then
In a short time from now or from a mentioned time.
Examples
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.