Synonyms:
earlier, earliest
Meaning: (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early; "a fashion popular in earlier times"; "his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher"; "Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera"
r
meaning of the word
Synonyms:
earlier, before
Meaning: earlier in time; previously; "I had known her before"; "as I said before"; "he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier"; "her parents had died four years earlier"; "I mentioned that problem earlier"
Synonyms:
sooner, earlier
Meaning: comparatives of `soon' or `early'; "Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected"
Synonyms:
in_the_first_place, earlier, in_the_beginning, to_begin_with, originally
Meaning: before now; "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"
Usage examples
If I had only come earlier!
He should have started three hours earlier.
He thought of her often during these earlier months.
"You have gone out earlier than usual to-day," she said.
He gives earlier dates, but I practice exclusions, myself.
Hardy Poppies should be sown even earlier; August is the best time.
Hereafter I'll get up at the time directed on page three, or maybe earlier.
And from this expedition we may infer the character of earlier enterprises.
He was beginning to adjust his latest impressions to his earlier idea of her.
In the earlier periods of Rome, separate baths were appropriated to each sex.