Learner's definition of BEFORE
1
: at an earlier time以前；过去 -
Haven't we met before?我们以前没见过吗？
-
the night/day before前一晚/天
-
I've never seen her so happy before. [=I've never seen her as happy as she is now]我之前从未见过她如此高兴。
-
We haven't had these problems before.我们以前从未碰到过这些问题。
-
Everything is just as (it was) before.一切如故。
2
formal + old-fashioned : to or toward the place where someone is going : in advance向前；在前边 2 before /bɪˈfoɚ/ preposition
2 before
/bɪˈfoɚ/
preposition
Learner's definition of BEFORE
1
a : at a time preceding (something or someone) : earlier than (something or someone)（时间）在…之前，早于 -
We arrived shortly before six o'clock.我们快到六点时到达的。
-
before dinner晚饭前
-
He left just before sunrise.他刚好在天亮之前离开了。
-
I've never seen her so happy before now.我之前从未见过她如此高兴。
-
Call me before your arrival.你快到时给我打电话吧。
-
She arrived the day before yesterday.她是前天到的。
-
Why haven't you ever helped me before now/this?你在此之前怎么从来没有帮助过我呢？
-
I finished the exam before him. [=before he finished the exam]我比他先考完试。
-
You can go before me. [=before I go]你可以比我早走。
-
He's an electrician, like his father before him. [=his father was also an electrician]他是电工，他父亲以前也是电工。
-
They earned 50,000 dollars before (paying) taxes.他们的税前收入是5万美元。
b US —
used to describe a time earlier than a specified hour在（某个钟点）之前 2
: preceding (something or someone) in order or in a series（次序）在…之前，先于 -
Your name is listed before mine.你的名字排在我之前。
-
You'll see my house just before the bank and after the school.你会看到我家就在银行前面，学校后面。
-
The number 2 comes before 3 and after 1. [=2 comes between 1 and 3]数字2在3和1之间。
3
a : in front of (someone or something)（位置）在…前面，在…面前 : in the presence of (someone)当着（某人）的面 — see also (right) before/in front of your (very) eyes at 1eye b : being considered by (someone or something)由…考虑中 -
The case before the court involves a robbery.法庭正在审理的是一宗抢劫案。
-
the candidates before the voters选民可选的候选人
-
I have a proposal to put before [=to] the board.我有个提案供董事会考虑。
-
The question before us is this: did he fall or was he pushed?我们要弄清的问题是：他是自己摔倒的，还是被人推倒的？
c : in the future for (someone) : ahead of (someone)等待着…；面临着… 4
a : in a higher or more important position than (something)（重要性）优于，在…之前 b : rather or sooner than（宁可…而）不愿… 5
formal : under the force of (something)在…影响下；在…威慑下 3 before /bɪˈfoɚ/ conjunction
3 before
/bɪˈfoɚ/
conjunction
Learner's definition of BEFORE
1
a : earlier than the time that : earlier than when（时间）在…之前，早于 -
He left long before morning came.他早在黎明之前就离开了。
-
The judge stood up before the defendant did. [=the defendant stood up after the judge did]法官先于被告站了起来。
-
Say goodbye before you go.你临走之前告个别吧。
-
Call me before you arrive.你抵达前给我打个电话吧。
-
Before [=until] she met him she had never been so happy.在遇见他以前，她从未如此快乐过。
-
I finished the exam before he did.我比他先考完试。
-
It was/happened not long before he arrived.此事发生在他到达前不久。
-
He left before I could thank him. [=I wasn't able to thank him because he left too soon]我还没来得及谢他，他就走了。
-
I'll resign before I give in! [=I would rather resign than give in]我宁可辞职也不愿屈从。
— see also before you know it at 1know b : until the time that到…之前；到…为止 2
a —
used to refer to something that might happen以免；不然 -
Get out of there before you get dirty! [=get out of there because you will/might get dirty if you don't]离开那里，以免弄一身脏！
-
Before I forget, will you give me your telephone number? [=I'm asking for your telephone number now because I might forget to do it later]趁我还记得，把你的电话号码给我可以吗？
b —
used to say that one thing must happen for another thing to happen or be possible（先…）才…