Prior vs. Before

Prioradjective

Advance; previous; coming before.

‘I had no prior knowledge you were coming.’;

Beforepreposition

Earlier than (in time).

‘I want this done before Monday.’;

Prioradjective

Former, previous.

‘His prior residence was smaller than his current one.’;

Beforepreposition

In front of in space.

‘He stood before me.’; ‘We sat before the fire to warm ourselves.’;

Prioradverb

(colloquial) Previously.

‘The doctor had known three months prior.’;

Beforepreposition

In the presence of.

‘He performed before the troops in North Africa.’; ‘He spoke before a joint session of Congress.’;

Priornoun

A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.

Beforepreposition

Under consideration, judgment, authority of (someone).

‘The case laid before the panel aroused nothing but ridicule.’;

Priornoun

(historical) A chief magistrate in Italy.

Beforepreposition

In store for, in the future of (someone).

Priornoun

A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's record.

Beforepreposition

In front of, according to a formal system of ordering items.

‘In alphabetical order, "cat" comes before "dog", "canine" before feline".’;

Priornoun

(statistics) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution, one based on information or belief before additional data is collected.

Beforepreposition

At a higher or greater position than, in a ranking.

‘An entrepreneur puts market share and profit before quality, an amateur intrinsic qualities before economical considerations.’;

Prioradjective

Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; - used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.

Beforeadverb

At an earlier time.

‘I've never done this before.’;

Prioradjective

First, precedent, or superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin, development, rank, etc.

Beforeadverb

In advance.

Priornoun

The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

Beforeadverb

At the front end.

Priornoun

a chief magistrate, as in the republic of Florence in the middle ages.

Beforeconjunction

in advance of the time when

Priornoun

a prior conviction; - said of an accused criminal.

Beforeconjunction

(informal) rather or sooner than

Priornoun

the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot

Beforepreposition

In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the fire; before the house.

‘His angel, who shall goBefore them in a cloud and pillar of fire.’;

Prioradjective

earlier in time

Beforepreposition

Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; - sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that.

‘Before Abraham was, I am.’; ‘Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.’;

Prior

Prior (or prioress) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior, usually lower in rank than an abbot or abbess. Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior.

Beforepreposition

An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.

‘The golden age . . . is before us.’;

Beforepreposition

Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than.

‘He that cometh after me is preferred before me.’; ‘The eldest son is before the younger in succession.’;

Beforepreposition

In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.

‘Abraham bowed down himself before the people.’; ‘Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?’;

Beforepreposition

Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.

‘If a suit be begun before an archdeacon.’;

Beforepreposition

Open for; free of access to; in the power of.

‘The world was all before them where to choose.’;

Beforeadverb

On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; - opposed to in the rear.

‘The battle was before and behind.’;

Beforeadverb

In advance.

Beforeadverb

In time past; previously; already.

‘You tell me, mother, what I knew before.’;

Beforeadverb

Earlier; sooner than; until then.

‘When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before.’;

Beforeadverb

earlier in time; previously;

‘I had known her before’; ‘as I said before’; ‘he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier’; ‘her parents had died four years earlier’; ‘I mentioned that problem earlier’;

Beforeadverb

at or in the front;

‘I see the lights of a town ahead’; ‘the road ahead is foggy’; ‘staring straight ahead’; ‘we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front’; ‘with the cross of Jesus marching on before’;

Beforepreposition

during the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)

‘she had to rest before dinner’; ‘his playing days had ended six years before’; ‘it's never happened to me before’; ‘the day before yesterday’; ‘they lived rough for four days before they were arrested’;

Beforepreposition

in front of

‘Matilda stood before her, panting’; ‘trotting through the city with guards running before and behind’;

Beforepreposition

in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority)

‘he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment’;

Beforepreposition

in preference to; rather than

‘they would die before they would cooperate with each other’; ‘a skilled warrior who places duty before all else’;

Beforeconjunction

during the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)

‘the day before yesterday’; ‘it's never happened to me before’; ‘she had to rest before dinner’; ‘they lived rough for four days before they were arrested’; ‘his playing days had ended six years before’;

Beforeconjunction

in front of

‘trotting through the city with guards running before and behind’; ‘Matilda stood before her, panting’;

Beforeconjunction

in preference to; rather than

‘they would die before they would cooperate with each other’; ‘a skilled warrior who places duty before all else’;

Beforeconjunction

Beforeconjunction

in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority)

‘he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment’;

Beforeadverb

during the period of time preceding (a particular event or time)

‘it's never happened to me before’; ‘the day before yesterday’; ‘she had to rest before dinner’; ‘his playing days had ended six years before’; ‘they lived rough for four days before they were arrested’;

Beforeadverb

in front of

‘trotting through the city with guards running before and behind’; ‘Matilda stood before her, panting’;

Beforeadverb

in preference to; rather than

‘they would die before they would cooperate with each other’; ‘a skilled warrior who places duty before all else’;

Beforeadverb

Beforeadverb

in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority)

‘he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment’;