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
The projects are expected to be completed in 2035 at the earliest.
—
Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
According to that document, the search has yet to begin and won't until this spring at the earliest.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Renovation work is expected to leave training pitches unplayable until the start of next week at the earliest, a point when the first-team squad will begin a week St George’s Park, the training home of the England national teams.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 1 July 2025
Any local tax vote in Missouri would likely come in November at the earliest.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the earliest
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Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
According to that document, the search has yet to begin and won't until this spring at the earliest.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Renovation work is expected to leave training pitches unplayable until the start of next week at the earliest, a point when the first-team squad will begin a week St George’s Park, the training home of the England national teams.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 1 July 2025
Any local tax vote in Missouri would likely come in November at the earliest.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the earliest
Cite this Entry
“At the earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20earliest. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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