come before

USAGE SUMMARY

"come before" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used to mean "to have precedence or priority over something or someone". For example, "The verdict of the court must come before the opinion of the public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lives come before security".

The Guardian

Admiration tends to come before scorn.

The New York Times

So negative numbers come before positive.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A recommendation could come before 1997.

The New York Times

Additional appropriations could not come before 2003.

The New York Times

But patients must always come before politics.

The Guardian

Death will come before long, as I fully expect.

The New York Times

"There wasn't any reason to come before," she said.

The New York Times

R.H.: It has to come before that.

Science Magazine

Which verb and preposition come before?

BBC

Doors come before jobs.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "come before" to indicate priority, ensure the context clearly establishes the hierarchy or order of importance to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "come before" solely to describe a chronological sequence when the intention is to emphasize importance or priority. If you mean that one thing happened earlier, but is not necessarily more important, choose a different phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come before" functions as a verb phrase indicating precedence or priority. Ludwig provides examples where it signifies importance (e.g., "Lives come before security") or sequence (e.g., "F comes before G in the alphabet"). Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come before" functions as a verb phrase signifying precedence or priority. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and grammatical soundness. As Ludwig examples illustrate, it's commonly used in news, academic, and general contexts to establish a hierarchy of importance or order. Related phrases include "precede" and "take precedence over". To use it effectively, ensure the context clearly defines the hierarchical order. Keep in mind that it´s important not to confuse chronological sequence with degree of importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

precede

This verb emphasizes the act of going before in time, order, or importance. It's more concise and formal.

take precedence over

This phrase explicitly indicates a higher priority or importance compared to something else. It's more emphatic than "come before".

have priority over

Similar to "take precedence over", this phrase directly states that something has a higher claim or right.

outweigh

This verb suggests that something is of greater significance or impact. It implies a weighing of importance.

rank higher than

This phrase emphasizes a hierarchical order or ranking. It's useful when discussing priorities in a structured system.

antedate

This verb refers specifically to preceding something in time. It is more formal and typically used in historical or academic contexts.

go ahead of

This phrase suggests a physical or metaphorical movement forward, indicating a position in front of something or someone.

supersede

This verb indicates replacing something older or less effective. It implies an update or upgrade.

lead up to

This phrase focuses on the sequence of events, where something acts as a preparatory stage. It is less focused on importance.

pave the way for

This expression indicates preparation for a future event. It suggests creating conditions that make something possible.

FAQs

How can I use "come before" in a sentence?

You can use "come before" to indicate that something is more important or has priority over something else, for instance: "In this company, customer satisfaction must "come before" profits".

What is a good substitute for "come before"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "come before" could include "precede", "take precedence over", or "outweigh".

Is it correct to say "comes before" instead of "come before"?

Yes, "comes before" is correct when referring to a singular subject in the third person. For example, "Honesty "comes before" everything else".

What's the difference between "come before" and "come after"?

"Come before" means to precede in time, order, or importance, whereas "come after" means to follow. They are antonyms indicating opposite sequences or priorities.