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
But this week’s withdrawal doesn’t address a critical funding gap outlined in the original lawsuit, which said the grants were now on track to be delivered by May 1, 2026, at the earliest instead of right after the start of the new year.
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Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Dec. 2025
Thus, the new European military mobility plan won’t come online until 2027 at the earliest—and may drag out beyond that.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
High rollers won’t be able to place any chips on the tables before 2027 at the earliest.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 1 Dec. 2025
That suspect, Tanner Horner, faces capital murder and kidnapping charges, but he is not expected to stand trial until next spring at the earliest, due to venue changes and other delays.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
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Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Dec. 2025
Thus, the new European military mobility plan won’t come online until 2027 at the earliest—and may drag out beyond that.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
High rollers won’t be able to place any chips on the tables before 2027 at the earliest.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 1 Dec. 2025
That suspect, Tanner Horner, faces capital murder and kidnapping charges, but he is not expected to stand trial until next spring at the earliest, due to venue changes and other delays.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 30 Nov. 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 11 Dec. 2025.
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