# come before

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/come-before
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to happen or exist earlier than something else, or to be more important than another thing.

For teachers: to precede in time, order, or rank; often used to indicate that one priority or obligation takes precedence over another.

## Examples

- The letter B comes before C in the alphabet.
- In this company, the needs of the customers always come before the profits of the owners.
- The legal team argued that the right to privacy should come before the public's desire for information in this specific case.

## Pitfalls

- Not "My family comes before of my job." but "My family comes before my job." — 'before' acts as a preposition here, so you do not need to add 'of' after it.

## Usage notes

- inseparable phrasal verb followed by the person or thing that is lower in rank or later in time.
- Teaching tip: contrast the literal meaning of physical order with the figurative meaning of priority; 'come before' is less formal than 'precede' or 'take precedence over'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.