early; in advance; in anticipation
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
be•fore•hand /bɪˈfɔrˌhænd/USA pronunciation
adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- in advance;
ahead of time;
earlier:Anticipate the problems beforehand.
be•fore•hand
(bi fôr′hand′, -fōr′-),USA pronunciation adv., adj.
- in anticipation;
in advance;
ahead of time:We should have made reservations beforehand. I hope to be beforehand with my report.
- Middle English bifor-hand. See before, hand 1175–1225
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'beforehand' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
advance
- aforehand
- announce
- anticipate
- before
- bespeak
- bode
- calculate
- cross
- date
- destine
- double cross
- early
- food
- forearm
- forebode
- forecast
- foreclose
- foredoom
- forefeel
- forehand
- forejudge
- foreknow
- foreordain
- forerunner
- foresee
- foreshadow
- foreshow
- forestall
- foretell
- forethought
- forewarn
- improvise
- plan
- pre-
- pre-emption
- preappoint
- prearrange
- precaution
- precept
- preclude
- precompose
- preconceive
- preconception
- preconcert
- precondemn
- precook
- predesignate
- predestinate
- predestine