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BEFORE LONG
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
In the near future
Example:
we should have news before long
Synonyms:
before long; presently; shortly; soon
Classified under:
Context examples:
A figure appeared in the distance before long, and I soon knew it to be Em'ly, who was a little creature still in stature, though she was grown.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
We'll have capital times after she is gone, for I shall be through college before long, and then we'll go abroad on some nice trip or other.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
There is a funeral at noon, so here we shall all come before long after that.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
The old woman then mixed a sleeping draught with their wine, and before long they were all lying on the floor of the cellar, fast asleep and snoring.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Agnes rose up from her father's side, before long; and going softly to her piano, played some of the old airs to which we had often listened in that place.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered that he expected her to wake before long and was afraid of forestalling nature.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
I was not mistaken; for the mop came into the schoolroom before long, and turned out Mr. Mell and me, who lived where we could, and got on how we could, for some days, during which we were always in the way of two or three young women, who had rarely shown themselves before, and were so continually in the midst of dust that I sneezed almost as much as if Salem House had been a great snuff-box.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which had been noticed earlier in the evening.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
We had of late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that we knew with fair accuracy when it would be; and we knew that before long the sun would set.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
