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Definition of ere

ere

/ɛər/
ere
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ere Lexical Profile

ere Game Scores & Validity

• preposition

1

Before in time; prior to (archaic or literary, surviving mainly in the phrase "ere long").

Example

"The travelers hoped to arrive at the inn ere nightfall."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• conjunction

1

Before; sooner than (archaic or literary).

Example

"We must reach the shelter of the valley ere the winter storm descends upon the pass."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ere
Antonyms
View all antonyms for ere

Word Nuance & Usage

"Ere" is an archaic or poetic word meaning "before" and should not be confused with its homophone "air" or "heir", nor with the poetic contraction "e'er" (meaning "ever").

• Rhymes for ere

• Nearby Words

erawan
erawan falls
erbil
ere
erebus
erect
erectile

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English ǣr, meaning "soon" or "before", derived from Proto-Germanic *airiz ("earlier") and directly related to modern English "early" and "erst".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ere. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ere
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