beforehand — in advance; before something happens or is done
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: in advance; before something happens or is done
Pronunciation (IPA): /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
Example Sentences
- She always cooks the turkey beforehand so she can relax on Thanksgiving.
- I should have told you beforehand that my cat thinks it's a dog and will try to fetch your keys.
- The meeting was planned beforehand, but nobody remembered to book the room.
beforehand
ADVERB[/bɪˈfɔːrhænd/]
in advance; before something happens or is done
Image coming soon
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Beforehand emerged in the mid-14th century from the combination of 'before' and 'hand'. The word 'hand' was used here in an archaic sense meaning 'time' or 'opportunity', rather than the literal body part, to express the concept of something occurring in advance.
Breakdown
before (in front of, previously) + hand (time, opportunity—archaic usage) = occurring or prepared in advance of a future event.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“She always cooks the turkey beforehand so she can relax on Thanksgiving.”
“I should have told you beforehand that my cat thinks it's a dog and will try to fetch your keys.”
“The meeting was planned beforehand, but nobody remembered to book the room.”
“If you know the exam questions beforehand, studying becomes much easier.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.