before

US: /ˌbiˈfɔɹ/, /bɪˈfɔɹ/
UK: /bɪfˈɔː/


English Vietnamese dictionary


before /bi'fɔ:/
  • phó từ
    • trước, đằng trước
      • to go before: đi trước
      • before and behind: đằng trước và đằng sau
    • trước đây, ngày trước
      • I have seen this before: trước đây tôi đã thấy cái này rồi
      • long before: trước đây đã lâu
      • before now: trước đây
    • before long
      • ngay bây giờ, chẳng bao lâu nữa
    • I'll be back before long: tôi sẽ trở về ngay bây giờ
  • giới từ
    • trước, trước mắt, trước mặt
      • before Christ: trước công lịch
      • the question before us is a very difficult one: vấn đề trước mắt chúng ta là một vấn đề rất khó
    • hơn (về chức vị, khả năng...)
      • he is before the other boys in his class: nó khá hơn các học sinh khác trong lớp
    • thà... còn hơn...;
      • death before dishonour: thà chết còn hơn chịu nhục
    • to carry all before one
      • (xem) carry
    • to have a whole life before one
      • đời còn dài
    • to sail before the mast
      • (xem) mast
  • liên từ
    • trước khi
      • I must funish my work before I go home: tôi phải làm xong việc trước khi về nhà
    • thà... chứ không...
      • he said he would die before he would betray the Party: anh ấy nói thà chết chứ không phản bội đảng

Advanced English dictionary


preposition, conjunction, adverb
+ preposition
1 earlier than sb/sth: before lunch + the day before yesterday + The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver. + She's lived there since before the war. + He arrived before me. + She became a lawyer as her father had before her. + Leave your keys at reception before departure. + Something ought to have been done before now. + We'll know before long (= soon). + Turn left just before (= before you reach) the bank.
2 (rather formal) used to say that sb/sth is in a position in front of sb/sth: They knelt before the throne. + Before you is a list of the points we have to discuss.
Compare: BEHIND
3 used to say that sb/sth is ahead of sb/sth in an order or arrangement: Your name is before mine on the list. + He puts his work before everything (= regards it as more important than anything else).
4 used to say that sth is facing sb in the future: The task before us is a daunting one. + The whole summer lay before me.
5 in the presence of sb who is listening, watching, etc: He was brought before the judge. + She said it before witnesses. + They had the advantage of playing before their home crowd.
6 (formal) used to say how sb reacts when they have to face sb/sth: They retreated before the enemy.
+ conjunction
1 earlier than the time when: Do it before you forget. + Did she leave a message before she went? + Before I made a decision, I thought carefully about it.
2 until: It may be many years before the situation improves. + It was some time before I realized the truth.
3 used to warn or threaten sb that sth bad could happen: Put that away before it gets broken.
4 (formal) rather than: I'd die before I apologized to them!
+ adverb
at an earlier time; in the past; already: You should have told me so before. + It had been fine the week before (= the previous week). + That had happened long before (= a long time earlier). + I think we've met before.

Thesaurus dictionary


adv.
1 previously, earlier, already, beforehand; formerly, in the past; once:
I have told you before, don't count your chickens.
2 ahead, in advance, in front, in the forefront, first, in the vanguard, Colloq up front:
He let his wife walk before, as he knew the road was mined.
3 ahead, in the future, to come:
Before lie the prospects of surrendering or dying.
prep.
4 ahead of, in advance of, in front of, forward of:
The king indicated that the page should go before him.
5 in front of; in the presence of:
The entire valley was spread out before me.
6 preceding, previous or anterior to, prior to; on the eve of:
Before my departure I have to kiss Annie goodbye.
7 in preference to, rather than, sooner than, more willingly than:
They said they would die before yielding.
conj.
8 previous to or preceding the time when:
This was a nice place before the day-trippers arrived.

Concise English dictionary


bɪfɔː
adv.
+earlier in time; previously
+at or in the front