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the day before
/ðə deɪ bɪˈfɔːr/
previous day
She arrived on Tuesday, and I had already left the day before.
She arrived on Tuesday, and I had already left on Monday.
neutral
The day that comes immediately before a specified or implied day.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, but I need the report the day before.
The report is due on Thursday for the Friday meeting.
He called me the day before his birthday to wish me luck.
He called me on the day before his birthday to wish me luck.
Often used in narratives or schedules to indicate a time reference relative to a known day.
Collocations
the day before yesterdaytwo days prior to todaythe day before lastthe day before the most recent occurrence
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use with time markers
Combine with time markers like 'the day before yesterday' or 'the day before last' to specify exact timing relative to the present or past events.
Gold Rule
Chronological clarity
Use 'the day before' to clearly establish temporal relationships in narratives or instructions, avoiding ambiguity about sequence.
Word Origin
From Old English 'dæg' (day) and 'beforan' (before), combining to indicate temporal precedence.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in storytelling, scheduling, and historical recounting to establish chronological order. Can be used with or without a specified reference day (e.g., 'the day before' or 'the day before the event').
Word Breakdown
the
definite article
grammarday
a 24-hour period
nounbefore
earlier in time
prepositionEnglish Dictionary