before: meaning and words from its letters
6 letters · 11 letter points · starts with B · ends with E
Meaning of before
prep
Earlier than (in time).
Example: I want this done before Monday.
In front of in space.
Example: He stood before me.
In the presence of.
Example: He performed before the troops in North Africa.
Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).
Example: The case laid before the panel aroused nothing but ridicule.
Listed forms: befo.
Source: Wiktionary — before.
adv
- not-comparable
At an earlier time.
Example: I've never done this before.
- literary, not-comparable, poetic
In advance in position or sequence; ahead.
Example: We walked behind while they went before.
- not-comparable, uncommon
At the front end.
Listed forms: befo.
Source: Wiktionary — before.
conj
In advance of the time when.
Example: Brush your teeth before you go to bed.
- informal
Rather or sooner than.
Example: I'll die before I('ll) tell you anything about it.
Listed forms: befo.
Source: Wiktionary — before.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for before.
adverb
earlier in time; previously
adverb
at or in the front
- ahead
- in front
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is before in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of before
B(3) + E(1) + F(4) + O(1) + R(1) + E(1) = 11 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of before
0 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
No other single-word anagram was found in our standard list.
Shorter words from before
33 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in before. Showing up to 24, longest first.