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before

preposition
 
🔊/bɪˈfɔː(r)/
🔊/bɪˈfɔːr/
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  1.  
     earlier than somebody/something在…以前
    • before lunch午餐前
    • the day before yesterday前天
    • The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver.他前年得了一枚金牌，大前年得了一枚银牌。🔊🔊
    • She's lived there since before the war.她从战前起就一直住在那里。🔊🔊
    • He arrived before me.他比我先到。🔊🔊
    • She became a lawyer as her father had before her.像她父亲先前一样，她成了一名律师。🔊🔊
    • Leave your keys at reception before departure.离开前请把钥匙留在服务台。🔊🔊
    • Something ought to have been done before now.先前就该采取措施了。🔊🔊
    • We'll know before long (= soon).我们很快就会知道了。🔊🔊
    • Turn left just before (= before you reach) the bank.在快到银行时向左拐。🔊🔊
    Topics Timea1
  2.  
     used to say that somebody/something is ahead of somebody/something in an order or arrangement（次序或排列）在前面
    • Your name is before mine on the list.名单上你的名字在我之前。🔊🔊
    • He puts his work before everything (= regards it as more important than anything else).他一切以工作为重。🔊🔊
  3. (rather formal) used to say that somebody/something is in a position in front of somebody/something在…面前（或前面）
    • They knelt before the throne.他们跪在御座前。🔊🔊
    • Before you is a list of the points we have to discuss.放在你面前的是一份我们所要讨论的要点清单。🔊🔊
    compare behind
  4. used to say that something is facing somebody in the future（表示面临或临近）
    • The task before us is a daunting one.我们所面临的任务令人生畏。🔊🔊
    • The whole summer lay before me.整个夏季正等待着我。🔊🔊
  5. in the presence of somebody who is listening, watching, etc.当面
    • He was brought before the judge.他被带上法庭。🔊🔊
    • She said it before witnesses.她当着证人的面讲出这事。🔊🔊
    • They had the advantage of playing before their home crowd.他们有在主场观众面前比赛的优势。🔊🔊
  6. (formal) used to say how somebody reacts when they have to face somebody/something（表示面对某人、某事时的反应）
    • They retreated before the enemy.面对敌人，他们撤退了。🔊🔊
    7. Word OriginOld English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.

before

conjunction
 
🔊/bɪˈfɔː(r)/
🔊/bɪˈfɔːr/
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  1.  
     earlier than the time when在…以前
    • Do it before you forget.尽早动手，免得忘了。🔊🔊
    • Did she leave a message before she went?她走之前留言了吗？🔊🔊
    • Before I made a decision, I thought carefully about it.在做出决定之前，我已经仔细考虑过。
    Topics Timea2
  2.  
     until到…为止；到…之前
    • It may be many years before the situation improves.这种状况或许要过很多年才能得到改善。🔊🔊
    • It was some time before I realized the truth.过了很长一段时间我才悟出真相。🔊🔊
  3.  
     used to warn or threaten somebody that something bad could happen以免；不然
    • Put that away before it gets broken.把它收好，免得打碎了。🔊🔊
  4. (formal) rather than（宁可…而）不愿
    • I'd die before I apologized!我宁愿死也不道歉！🔊🔊
    5. Word OriginOld English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.

before

adverb
 
🔊/bɪˈfɔː(r)/
🔊/bɪˈfɔːr/
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  1. at an earlier time; in the past; already以前；过去；已经
    • You should have told me so before.你早该告诉我的。🔊🔊
    • It had been fine the week before (= the previous week).前一个星期天气很好。🔊🔊
    • That had happened long before (= a long time earlier).那是很早以前的事了。🔊🔊
    • I think we've met before.我觉得我们以前见过面。🔊🔊
    Topics Timea2
    Word OriginOld English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.