beforehand

adverb or adjective

be·​fore·​hand bi-ˈfȯr-ˌhand 

bē-

1

a

: in anticipation

b

: in advance

2

: ahead of time : early

Synonyms of beforehand

• early
• immediately

Examples of beforehand in a Sentence

if you arrive beforehand, we won't be entirely prepared yet

if you get ready beforehand, you won't have to rush at the last minute

Recent Examples on the Web

While the administration has shuffled funding to pay DHS employees during the shutdown, those funds are expected to dry up in the first week of May if Congress doesn’t act beforehand. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026

If something happens to arise before your trip, most hotels offer free cancellation up until 24 hours before arrival, but be sure to check the hotel’s website beforehand for specifics. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

Europe, already dealing with a four-year conflict on its doorstep in Ukraine, sees the military operation as a war of choice that they were not consulted on beforehand. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026

If media outlets and sources are aware of it, NFL security teams most likely knew beforehand. —Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for beforehand

• analysand
• misunderstand
• ampersand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland

Kids Definition

beforehand

adverb

be·​fore·​hand -ˌhand 

: ahead of time : in advance