Have met before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Have met before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a previous encounter or meeting with someone. Example: "I feel like we have met before, perhaps at a conference last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thus two people in a bakery may never have met before, but, if one can be classified as customer and the other as clerk, they tend to behave appropriately.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She and I have met before, several times, but now that i have told her I want to write about her, it turns out to be surprisingly hard to arrange.

The New York Times - Magazine

The one and only time the pair have met before was at last year's Wimbledon and Kerber "double-bageled" her: 6-0, 6-0 – the most comprehensive indignity of the 21-year-old Witthöft's short career.

The Guardian - Sport

Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kate Tempest have met before, as you might expect of two London-based artists both born in 1985 – though Waller-Bridge was drunk and Tempest can't remember.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When being introduced to someone, pre-empt any awkwardness by always saying: "Yeah, I think we've met before …" If you have met before, then that's cool and if you haven't, you have the moral high ground.

The Guardian - Music

But genes and genealogy have met before, on the site called sex.

Forbes

"It is someone that we have met before, that is known to the club, and someone that follows the club closely".

BBC

I have had tea with families I would never have met before, I've gained perspectives of those most people will never even allow themselves to meet, and I've created special bonds with a few individuals that will last forever.

Huffington Post

An important reason for these discrepancies was that the data collection for the substudy was discontinued January 15th , 2001 and was thus not performed on those who should have met before, but met after January 15th.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

The friends have met before.

Independent

Art and crime have met before.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Have met before", ensure the context clearly indicates who is meeting whom. Adding specific details or context can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "Had met before" when "Have met before" is more appropriate. "Had met" implies the meeting occurred before another past event, while "Have met" refers to a past meeting with present relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Have met before" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating a past action (meeting) that has relevance to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. For example, "Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kate Tempest "have met before"".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Have met before" is a grammatically correct and commonly used present perfect verb phrase indicating a past meeting with present relevance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It serves to establish prior connections, express recognition, or explain pre-existing relationships. This phrase appears frequently in neutral contexts like news and media, but can be adapted to formal or informal settings. When employing "Have met before", ensure clarity by specifying who is meeting whom. Alternatives like "Previously acquainted" or "Encountered in the past" offer more formal options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previously acquainted

Focuses on the state of knowing someone from an earlier time, implying a prior introduction or meeting.

Knew each other previously

Highlights a mutual knowledge of one another from a time before the present.

We've already been introduced

A more direct way of indicating that a prior formal introduction has taken place.

Been introduced before

Highlights the act of a formal introduction having occurred at some point in the past.

Encountered in the past

Emphasizes a prior experience or meeting, often in a specific situation or context.

Already acquainted with

Focuses on the state of being familiar with someone, originating from a previous meeting.

Crossed paths earlier

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a prior, possibly brief, encounter.

Met at an earlier date

Specifies that the meeting occurred at some undefined point in the past.

Familiar from a previous meeting

Highlights the sense of recognition based on a past encounter.

Seen each other before

Indicates a prior visual encounter, possibly without a formal introduction or interaction.

FAQs

How can I use "Have met before" in a sentence?

You can use "Have met before" to indicate a past meeting, such as "I think we "have met before" at a conference" or "They "have met before" but don't remember each other well".

What is a more formal way to say "Have met before"?

More formal alternatives include "Previously acquainted", "Been introduced previously", or "Encountered in the past". These options are suitable for professional or academic settings.

Which is correct, "Have met before" or "Had met before"?

"Have met before" is generally used to indicate a past meeting relevant to the present. "Had met before" is used when referring to a past meeting that occurred before another past event. Choose the tense that correctly reflects the timeline.

What's the difference between "Have met before" and "Seen each other before"?

"Have met before" suggests a more formal introduction or interaction, while "Seen each other before" simply indicates a visual encounter, possibly without any direct engagement or introduction.