come before

To happen earlier or have an earlier place in a sequence.

• Tuesday comes before Wednesday.
• The introduction came before the first chapter.
• Which letter comes before Q?

How to use it: come before something (In this list, your name comes before mine.)

Similar words: precede

Opposites: follow, come after

Common phrases: come before something, come before lunch, come before summer

To be more important than someone or something else.

• Safety comes before speed.
• Her family always came before her career.
• Should profit come before people's health?

How to use it: come before someone/something (Your health should come before your work.)

Similar words: take priority over, come ahead of, outrank

Opposites: come after

Common phrases: come before something, come before someone, come before profit

To be presented to an official group or person so they can discuss it or make a decision.

• The proposal comes before the board tomorrow.
• Her case came before the court last month.
• When will this issue come before the committee?

How to use it: come before an authority (The planning application will come before the council next week.)

Similar words: be considered by, be heard by

Common phrases: come before the board, come before a committee, come before the court

To appear before a judge, ruler, or other person with power, usually for an official reason.

• The witness came before the judge.
• She was ordered to come before the king.
• All three defendants will come before the same magistrate.

How to use it: come before someone in authority (The prisoner came before the judge on Monday.)

Similar words: appear before

Common phrases: come before someone, come before a judge, come before the king