あらかじめ

あ

ら

か

じ

め

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Standard adverb for doing something ahead of time or in preparation.

あらかじめ〈事こと〉を知しらせるto inform someone of something in advance
会かい議ぎの日にっ程ていはあらかじめ知しらせておきます。
I'll let you know the meeting schedule in advance.
あらかじめ〈物もの〉を用よう意いするto prepare something beforehand
必ひつ要ような書しょ類るいはあらかじめ用よう意いしておいてください。
Please prepare the necessary documents in advance.
あらかじめご了りょう承しょうくださいplease understand this in advance (polite notice)
内ない容ようは変へん更こうされる場ば合あいがありますので、あらかじめご了りょう承しょうください。
Please note in advance that the content may be changed.

前まえもってN2
前もって is the common spoken equivalent of あらかじめ, which sounds slightly more formal and is often used in written or official contexts.
事じ前ぜんN2
事前 is a noun meaning 'prior to the event' often used as 事前に, while あらかじめ is a standalone adverb with the same 'in advance' meaning.
先さきにN3
あらかじめ is a slightly more formal, written word for 'in advance,' whereas 先に is common in everyday speech and covers more meanings (first, earlier, beforehand).

あらかじめUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 予め is also used but less common.
予あらかじめUsage11%
Kanji form; recognized but kana is preferred in modern usage.

The adverb is the continuative form of the classical verb あらかじむ, “to anticipate or arrange beforehand.” Its deeper formation is uncertain.