Dictionary

beforehand en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /bɪˈfo(ː)ɹhænd/ rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
• /bɪˈfɔːhænd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /bɪˈfoəhænd/ non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
• /bɪˈfɔɹhænd/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English biforhand, biforhond, beforehonde, bifornhand, equivalent to before + hand. [13th century. After Old French avant main].

Meanings

1. (obsolete) In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.
   • rich and much beforehand 1626, Francis Bacon, New Atlantis:
2. (archaic, followed by with, often) In a state of anticipation or preoccupation.
   • The last cited author has been beforehand with me. 1716 April 16 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 31. Thursday, April 6. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:
   • Agricola […] resolves to be beforehand with the danger. 1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC:
   • […] the medical attendant ought to be rather beforehand with the symptoms of excitement, and to diminish the large quantity of wine before they appear. 1839, London Medical Gazette: Or, Journal of Practical Medicine:

Forms

Deriveds

beforehand with the world · beforehand in the world

beforehand en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /bɪˈfo(ː)ɹhænd/ rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
• /bɪˈfɔːhænd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /bɪˈfoəhænd/ non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger
• /bɪˈfɔɹhænd/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English biforhand, biforhond, beforehonde, bifornhand, equivalent to before + hand. [13th century. After Old French avant main].

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) At an earlier or preceding time.
   • Will it be possible to have access to the room beforehand so that we can set up chairs?
   • Weeks beforehand, I had bought the tickets for the concert.
   • Prosecutors also said Wednesday their side “does not intend to reference allegations that the defendant violated FARA or improperly coordinated with the Obama Administration,” referring to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people who lobby on behalf of foreign clients to register beforehand with the US government. 2024 August 7, Marshall Cohen, “Prosecutors claim Hunter Biden once agreed to lobby US on behalf of Romanian businessman”, in CNN:
   • I love playing tennis but I always get so nervous beforehand.

Forms

Antonyms

afterwards · afterhand

Synonyms

upfront · in advance · prehand

Translations (90)

izh etukättee (at an earlier time) · ru заблаговре́менно (at an earlier time) · he מבעוד מועד (at an earlier time) · pl zawczasu (at an earlier time) · de im Voraus (at an earlier time) · ga roimh ré (at an earlier time) · fr préalablement (at an earlier time) · pl wcześniej (at an earlier time) · cmn 預先 /预先 (at an earlier time) · nl van tevoren (at an earlier time) · pt adiantado (at an earlier time) · el πρωτύτερα (at an earlier time) · es de antemano (at an earlier time) · da i forvejen (at an earlier time) · fr au préalable (at an earlier time) · kk алдын ала (at an earlier time) · nb i forvegen (at an earlier time) · cmn 頭裡 /头里 (at an earlier time) · nl vooraf (at an earlier time) · nb på forhånd (at an earlier time) · gd ro làimh (at an earlier time) · pl z góry (at an earlier time) · udm азьло ик (at an earlier time) · cs předem (at an earlier time) · nb i forveien (at an earlier time) · bg преди (at an earlier time) · uk напере́д (at an earlier time) · ka წინდაწინ (at an earlier time) · ru наперёд (at an earlier time) · cmn 事先 (at an earlier time) · he מראש (at an earlier time) · es anticipadamente (at an earlier time) · el προηγουμένως (at an earlier time) · az qabaqcadan (at an earlier time) · fi etukäteen (at an earlier time) · pl uprzednio (at an earlier time) · ro în avans (at an earlier time) · ru зара́нее (at an earlier time) · uk заздалегі́дь (at an earlier time) · el προκαταβολικά (at an earlier time) · fr à l'avance (at an earlier time) · it in anticipo (at an earlier time) · de zuvor (at an earlier time) · ru за́годя (at an earlier time) · pdt verut (at an earlier time) · ko 미리 (at an earlier time) · nl bij voorbaat (at an earlier time) · ca de bestreta (at an earlier time) · no i forkant (at an earlier time) · it anticipatamente (at an earlier time) · az öncədən (at an earlier time) · es de “manera/forma antelada”/“modo antelado” (at an earlier time) · pt previamente (at an earlier time) · hu előzetesen (at an earlier time) · ja 予め (at an earlier time) · cmn 提前 (at an earlier time) · cmn 先行 (at an earlier time) · da på forhånd (at an earlier time) · sk vopred (at an earlier time) · be за́гадзя (at an earlier time) · nl op voorhand (at an earlier time) · sv i förväg (at an earlier time) · ro mai devreme (at an earlier time) · ro în prealabil (at an earlier time) · it precedentemente (at an earlier time) · mnc ᡩᠣᡳᡤᠣᠨᡩᡝ (at an earlier time) · pt de antemão (at an earlier time) · pt com antecedência (at an earlier time) · es por adelantado (at an earlier time) · la antea (at an earlier time) · ru преждевре́менно (at an earlier time) · es adelantadamente (at an earlier time) · tr öncesinde (at an earlier time) · de vorher (at an earlier time) · pt antes (at an earlier time) · hu előre (at an earlier time) · es con anterioridad/antelación (at an earlier time) · mnc ᡩᠣᡳᡥᠣᠨᡩᡝ (at an earlier time) · el εκ των προτέρων (at an earlier time) · tr önceden (at an earlier time) · el από πριν (at an earlier time) · de davor (at an earlier time) · sv på förhand (at an earlier time) · ka წინასწარ (at an earlier time) · ru вперёд (at an earlier time) · gl de antemán (at an earlier time) · pt antecipadamente (at an earlier time) · af vooraf (at an earlier time) · fr auparavant (at an earlier time) · eo antaŭe (at an earlier time)