Earlier Definition & Meaning

earlier
adverb
  1. 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"
  2. comparatives of `soon' or `early'; "Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected"
  3. before now; "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"
adjective
  1. (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"

Synonyms for earlier

before adv

earlier in time; previously; "I had known her before"; "as I said before

♫ Rhymes
earliest adv

with the least delay; "the soonest I can arrive is 3 P.M." (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than

♫ Rhymes
early adv

during an early stage; "early on in her career" before the usual time or the time expected; "she graduated early

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
originally adv

in an original manner with reference to the origin or beginning before now; "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"

♫ Rhymes
past adv

so as to pass a given point; "every hour a train goes past" earlier than the present time; no longer current

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
sooner adv

comparatives of `soon' or `early'; "Come a little sooner, if you can

♫ Rhymes

"Earlier" in song lyrics

See how earlier is used in real songs:

  • "Damn I need to eat some food, hamburgler, I forgot what I was saying earlier"
    Mr. SOS — Let's Go Get Stoned
  • "About two hour's earlier"
    Mystic — Fatherless Child
  • "Word! It's gettin dark a little earlier"
    Random a/k/a Mega Ran f/ Phill Harmonix — Christmas Is Coming

Words that rhyme with earlier

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Usage tips for "earlier"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "earlier" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for earlier to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with earlier ↔ Synonyms for earlier 🔬 Words containing earlier

Frequently asked questions

What does earlier mean?
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" comparatives of `soon' or `early'; "Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected" before now; "why didn't you tell me in the first place?" (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early; "a fashion popular in earlier times
What part of speech is earlier?
Earlier is an adverb and an adjective.
How many definitions does earlier have?
Earlier has 4 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adverb, adjective).

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