before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
英语
~ 1600
义项
0 个义项
preposition
A1
relation
1
Earlier than something in time
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
用法模式：
before [time/event/action]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
近义词
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
反义词
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
搭配
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
主题
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
例句
- We need to finish this before noon.
- She called me before the party started.
- I always stretch before running.
- He left the office before the boss arrived.
学习者例句
- I brush my teeth before bed.
- Wash your hands before eating.
- I drink coffee before work.
- He studies before the exam.
conjunction
A2
relation
2
Earlier than another event
Used to say one thing happens earlier than another thing.
用法模式：
[event] before [event]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
近义词
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
反义词
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
搭配
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
主题
time
|daily life
|communication
例句
- Think carefully before you decide.
- I had never seen her before I came here.
- Turn off the lights before you leave.
- He knocked before entering the room.
学习者例句
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Look both ways before you cross the road.
- Finish your homework before you play games.
- Call me before you come.
adverb
A2
relation
3
At an earlier time
At a time earlier than now or another time mentioned.
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
近义词
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
反义词
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
搭配
long before
|never before
|seen before
主题
time
|core_vocabulary
例句
- I have met him before.
- We spoke on the phone before.
- Never before had I felt so nervous.
- I’ve been here once before.
学习者例句
- I saw this movie before.
- She was here before.
- I ate there before.
- We met before.
preposition
B1
relation
4
Ahead in position or order
In front of something or someone, or ahead in a list or order.
用法模式：
before [person/object]
常见错误：
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
近义词
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
反义词
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
搭配
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
主题
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
例句
- He stood nervously before the audience.
- The number 3 comes before 4.
- She appeared before the committee.
- There were two people ahead of me, but I was before them in the list.
学习者例句
- The dog is before the house.
- B comes before C in the alphabet.
- He stood before me in line.
- The man is standing before the door.
语法
词典原形
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
音节与重音
be - fore （2 个音节）
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
词形变化
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
词族
相关表达
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
例句
- 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.
例句
- 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.
例句
- 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.
例句
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.