before
/bɪˈfɔː(r)/- during the period of time preceding (a particular event, date, or time)在（某事件、日期或时间）之前：
as prep. she had to rest before dinner她用餐前要休息一下
the day before yesterday
前天
as conjunction they lived rough for four days before they were arrested他们在度过了艰难的四天后被捕了
it wasn't long before I had my first bite
没一会儿我就第一次等到了鱼来咬饵
as adv. his playing days had ended six years before他轻松愉快的日子六年前就结束了
it's never happened to me before.
我以前从未碰到过这种事。
- in front of在…前面, 在…面前：
as prep. Matilda stood before her, panting马蒂尔达气喘吁吁地站在她面前
the patterns swam before her eyes
各种图案在眼前浮现
as adv. archaic 〈古〉trotting through the city with guards running before and behind在卫兵前呼后拥下一路小跑穿过城市。
- prep. in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority)面对（法院、法庭或其他官方机构）并受审：
he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment.
他可能会被送到地方法官那里接受处罚。
- in preference to; with a higher priority than（宁愿…）不愿, 优先于：
as prep. rangers are taught to put their horses' comfort before their own骑兵被教导关心马匹要胜过关心自己
a woman who placed duty before all else
一位视职责高于一切的妇女
as conjunction they would die before they would cooperate with each other.他们宁死也不愿合作。