as in ahead
so as to precede something in order of time
he had arrived earlier to take care of some preliminary matters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earlier
Adverb
-
Any sort of elimination would obviously be a disappointment, but this dynamic core has an exciting future ahead.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026 -
The Best Outdoor Lighting Deals Read ahead to shop our favorite picks from Amazon, Pottery Barn, and Wayfair, with prices starting at just $13.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Rodman doubled the lead early in the second half, marking her 100th appearance for the Spirit with her first goal of the season.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Pohlkamp signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Barracuda earlier Friday.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Nataliia Khodymchuk’s last evening at home was like many that had come before.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This event highlights the powerful connection between the Mobil™ brand and the high-performance world of the VCARB Formula One™ team, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.—
Mobil™ Fuels,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The Seattle Seahawks have already hit three of their biggest needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, taking Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price on Thursday night in Round 1 and TCU safety Bud Clark and Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal in the second and third rounds on Friday.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
China’s discovery of a new form of entertainment—one already worth billions of dollars—has put it on a collision course with the incumbents in Hollywood.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Pakistan has also raised a separate claim to the diamond previously.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The White House previously expressed skepticism about Iran's offer.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Earlier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earlier. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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