at the earliest

idiom

—used to indicate the earliest possible time when something will happen or be done

The job will not be finished until next year at the (very) earliest.

Examples of at the earliest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many prenatal providers won't schedule patients until eight or nine weeks of pregnancy - at the earliest. —NPR, 11 Nov. 2025

However, it is expected December 2025 at the earliest. —Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

By detecting the COMs in their frozen states, astronomers get an indication of how far evolved the chemistry of the material surrounding protostars is at the earliest stages of star formation. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Prevention includes behavioral threat assessment—essentially training students and staff to intervene at the earliest warning signs that someone may be capable of potential violence, and helping divert those people to treatment. —Alana Semuels, Time, 6 Nov. 2025