あらかじめ・予めarakajime[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverbbeforehand; in advance; ahead of time; previously
   私わたしたちはあらかじめスナックを用意よういしておいた。↗

   We prepared snacks beforehand.

• Synonym前もってまえもってNeutralNeutral adverb for 'in advance, beforehand'; common in speech, while 「予め」 leans written and suits notices and explanations.
• Synonym先立ってさきだってWrittenWritten: means before a particular event, as in 「先立って準備する」; it can also refer to a few days back ('the other day').
• RelatedかねてWrittenWritten word for 'already, for some time', as in 「予てから」; it stresses a state held since earlier, not an action done in advance.
• Antonym後であとでNeutralNeutral antonym: 'afterwards; later' — a time after the event rather than before it, the opposite of 「予め」.
• Antonym後ほどのちほどNeutralNeutral too: 'later on', politer than 「後で」; the after-the-fact counterpart of 「予め」.

In written notices, 「予め」 is the default for 'in advance', as in 「予めご了承ください」; in speech prefer 「前もって」. Use 「予て」 for something long since true, and written 「先立って」 for 'prior to'. For afterwards use 「後で」 or the politer 「後ほど」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 物事ものごとが起おこる前まえに。前まえ以もって。