have met before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have met before" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it 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

"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

Ogden and Jones have met before.

The New York Times - Sports

Many of them seemed to have met before.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When trying to recall a previous meeting, use "have met before" to politely acknowledge the possibility without assuming familiarity.

Common error

Avoid using "have met before" if you're certain you haven't met the person, as it can be perceived as insincere or confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have met before" functions as a conversational tool to express a feeling of familiarity or to inquire about a previous encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have met before" is a common and grammatically sound way to inquire about or acknowledge a potential prior encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers multiple real-world examples. It's versatile, fitting comfortably in casual conversation as well as more formal writing styles. Be mindful of the context and avoid using it when you're certain you haven't met someone. Alternatives such as "encountered previously" or "been introduced before" can be considered depending on the situation. Its widespread use across various sources indicates its general acceptability and applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered previously

Focuses on a prior encounter, similar to having met, but can apply to things or situations as well as people.

know each other from before

Emphasizes mutual knowledge stemming from a previous meeting.

seen each other previously

Emphasizes the visual aspect of a prior meeting.

crossed paths earlier

Suggests a brief or chance meeting in the past.

made acquaintance previously

More formal way of saying you've met before.

been introduced before

Highlights the act of being formally introduced.

previously been introduced

Similar to "been introduced before", but could imply a more formal introduction.

are acquainted already

Indicates a level of familiarity from a past meeting.

are not strangers

Highlights lack of unfamiliarity due to a prior meeting.

first met

Refers specifically to an initial meeting.

FAQs

How do I politely ask someone if we "have met before"?

You can say "I feel like we "have met before", haven't we?" or "Do I know you from somewhere?" to gently inquire.

What's a more formal way to say "have met before"?

A more formal alternative is "We "have been introduced"" or "We "made acquaintance previously"".

Is it correct to say "had met before" instead of "have met before"?

While "had met before" is grammatically correct, it implies that the meeting occurred at a specific point in the past before another event. "Have met before" is more general and indicates a meeting at some point in the past up to the present.

What's the difference between "have met before" and "know each other"?

"Have met before" simply means you've encountered someone. "Know each other" implies a level of familiarity or relationship beyond a single meeting.