come back before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come back before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a request or expectation for someone to return at a specific time prior to another event or deadline. Example: "Please come back before the meeting starts so we can discuss the agenda together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our team has come back before".

The New York Times - Sports

"Our kids have come back before," coach Jim Crowley said.

The New York Times

But we've come back before, and we'll do it again.

The New York Times

We've come back before and this party will come back again.

Independent

He added: "We have come back before and this party will come back again".

The Guardian

Ending on a defiant note, he said: "This party has come back before and will come back again".

The Guardian

To cheers from those assembled inside the party's headquarters, he said: "We've come back before, and this party will come back again".

Independent

Announcing his immediate resignation, Mr Miliband told activists that he took "absolute and complete responsibility" for the dismal performance and insisted: "We have come back before and this party will come back again".

Independent

In a heartfelt speech, Miliband said that it was time for someone else to take on the mantle of leader, saying: "We've come back before and we'll come back again".

Independent

In any case, the result was so bad for Labour that he had no choice but to resign, which he did with dignity, saying, "We have come back before and this party will come back again".

The New Yorker

"I don't know if I would have done this before, come back before, when I was younger," said Agassi, who has now rallied from two sets down four times in his career, including the 1999 French Open final.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting a deadline, use "come back before" to clearly communicate the expectation of an earlier return, allowing for potential adjustments or preparations.

Common error

Avoid ambiguous time references when using "come back before". Always specify a clear date, time, or event to prevent misunderstandings about the expected return.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come back before" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a time constraint. It specifies that an action (returning) must occur prior to a certain point in time or event. Ludwig’s examples illustrate its use in setting deadlines and expectations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come back before" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase to specify a return time prior to a deadline or event. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources. When employing this phrase, clarity and specificity are key; avoid vague time references to prevent misunderstandings. For alternatives, consider options like "return by" or "be back prior to". Use "come back before" to clearly communicate time expectations and ensure timely returns or actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

return by

Focuses on the deadline for returning.

be back prior to

Emphasizes the act of being back before a specific time.

arrive ahead of

Highlights the action of arriving earlier than a given time.

get back in advance of

Stresses returning well before a deadline or event.

make it back sooner than

Underscores the possibility of an early return.

return earlier than

Highlights arriving at a time before a deadline.

be present before

Focuses on the state of being there before an event.

report back ahead of

Stresses the need to report one's return before a certain time.

rejoin prior to

Implies rejoining a group or activity before a set time.

circle back by

Emphasizes a return visit or contact before a deadline.

FAQs

How do I use "come back before" in a sentence?

Use "come back before" to indicate a required return time that is earlier than a specified event or deadline. For example, "Please "come back before" the meeting starts".

What can I say instead of "come back before"?

You can use alternatives like "return by", "be back prior to", or "arrive ahead of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "come back prior to" instead of "come back before"?

Yes, "come back prior to" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning as ""come back before"". "Prior to" is a more formal alternative to "before".

What's the difference between "come back before" and "come back by"?

"Come back before" indicates returning at any point earlier than a specified time, while "come back by" implies that the latest acceptable return time is that specified time. For example, "Come back by 5 PM" means 5 PM is the absolute deadline.