befores
What came first
Things that came earlier or preceded something else.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase befores and afters, referring to comparison images showing a state before and after some transformation—weight loss, home renovation, makeover.
She scrolled through the befores and afters on the plastic surgeon's website.
Record of past events
- yesteryearTime not long past
- bygoneOf earlier times
- yoreTime long past
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
previous · earlier · prior · retrospect · heritage · memories · nostalgia · tradition
Arranging for future events
- readinessState of being prepared
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- forethoughtPlanning before acting
provisioning · setup · organizing · briefing · training · equipping · preliminaries · logistics
Something that comes first
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- predecessorOne who came first
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
forefather · origin · source · root · antecedent · cause · prior · earlier
Belief about future outcomes
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- eagernessIntense willingness to act
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
outlook · await · imminence · trepidation · anxiety · suspense · apprehension · countdown
Prophetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- presageIndicate beforehand
- auguryOmen interpretation practice
forewarning · premonition · foreboding · sign · warning · herald · prophecy · prognostication
history
Record of past events
- yesteryearTime not long past
- bygoneOf earlier times
- yoreTime long past
antiquity · previous · earlier · prior · retrospect · heritage · memories · nostalgia · tradition · legacy
planning
Arranging for future events
- readinessState of being prepared
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
forethought · provisioning · setup · organizing · briefing · training · equipping · preliminaries · logistics · scheduling
precursor
Something that comes first
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- predecessorOne who came first
- progenitorAncestor or originator
ancestor · forefather · origin · source · root · antecedent · cause · prior · earlier · forebear
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- eagernessIntense willingness to act
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
prospect · outlook · await · imminence · trepidation · anxiety · suspense · apprehension · countdown · waiting
omen
Prophetic indicator
augury · forewarning · premonition · foreboding · sign · warning · herald · prophecy · prognostication · inkling
beforesafters
British term for dessert
afterwards · aftermaths · after · follow-ups · following
- before longIn the near future
- before and afterStates flanking a change
- before darkPrior to sunset
- calm before the stormDeceptive peace preceding turmoil
- before you know itSooner than anticipated
- before dawnTime preceding sunrise