1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to be more important than something else
"For her, family always comes before work."
“
The people I meet in my work come before the books I write.
— Alice Walker, interview quotation often cited in print
inseparable
come before
B2 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
to happen earlier than something, or to be judged or considered by an authority
In plain English
to be earlier than something, or to appear in front of an important person or group
What does "come before" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
to happen or exist earlier than something else
"A short introduction comes before the main chapter."
inseparable
3 C1 formal
to appear before a court, committee, or other authority for judgment or discussion
"The case will come before the judge next week."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move or appear in front of someone or something
Actually means
to be earlier than something, or to appear in front of an important person or group
Usage tip
Common in formal and semi-formal contexts such as law, politics, and priorities. Often followed by a noun or pronoun.
Words that pair with "come before"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
court judge committee parliament family career
How to conjugate "come before"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
come before
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes before
he/she/it
Past simple
came before
yesterday
Past participle
come before
have + pp
-ing form
coming before
continuous
Hear "come before" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "come before" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "come before"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
appear before be heard by precede rank ahead of take priority over
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.