beforehand
/bi'fɔ:hænd/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adverb:
- In advance; ahead of time: Refers to doing something prior to a particular event or time.
- In anticipation; as a preparatory measure: Indicates action taken in preparation for a future situation.
Adjective:
- Early; ahead of schedule: Describes something done or provided before it is needed or expected. (Note: This adjectival use is less common than the adverbial use.)
Examples of Usage
Adverb:
- You should book the tickets beforehand to get a better price.
- I had prepared all the documents beforehand, so the meeting went smoothly.
- If you had told me beforehand, I could have helped.
Adjective:
- She was beforehand with her report, submitting it a week early. (This usage is formal and less frequent.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be beforehand with": To do something before someone else does it; to anticipate.
- He was beforehand with his critics, addressing their concerns in his introduction.
- Used to emphasize careful planning or avoidance of last-minute problems.
- Good organizers think beforehand about potential issues.
Variants and Related Words
- In advance (adv. phrase): Synonymous with the primary adverbial meaning.
- Payment is required in advance.
- Ahead of time (adv. phrase): Synonymous with the primary adverbial meaning.
- Please arrive ahead of time for security checks.
- Preparatory (adj): Relating to or acting as preparation.
- Preemptive (adj): Done to prevent an anticipated event.
Synonyms
- Adverb: Previously, earlier, already, in advance, ahead of time.
- Adjective: Early, premature, precocious (in the sense of being early).
Related Phrases
- Plan ahead: To make preparations for the future.
- It's wise to plan ahead for your retirement.
- Forewarned is forearmed: A proverb meaning that prior knowledge of a problem allows one to prepare for it, closely related to the concept of acting beforehand.
Related Idioms
- To get the jump on someone: To gain an advantage by acting before someone else. This idiom conveys a similar sense of anticipatory action as "to be beforehand with."
- Our team got the jump on the competition by launching the product beforehand.
Adjective
- being ahead of time or need
- gave advance warning
- was beforehand with her report
Adverb
- ahead of time; in anticipation
- when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount
- We like to plan ahead
- should have made reservations beforehand