The phrasal verb "come before" is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to appear more frequently in formal situations, such as legal, governmental, or hierarchical settings. It generally means to be presented to, considered by, or examined by someone, often in a higher authority position, such as a judge or a committee. For instance, one might say, "The case will come before the court next week," indicating that the matter is scheduled for a hearing. Outside of formal contexts, "come before" can be used to indicate a sequence or priority, as in "Family comes before work," emphasizing the importance placed on certain aspects of life. Additionally, it may appear in chronological contexts, when indicating that one event happens before another in time. It is a straightforward phrasal verb with clear applications related to sequence, priority, and order of events or authority.
B1
Intermediate
1. To be judged or decided by a person or group with authority.
The case will come before the Supreme Court next month.
Before making any decisions, the proposal must come before the board of directors.
2. To be more important or prioritized over something else.