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
-
By the time Game 6 rolled around, Minnesota was without star Anthony Edwards, sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo and even Ayo Dosunmu, who had stepped up earlier in the series in the absence of the latter duo.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
-
News of the withdrawal was reported earlier by The New York Times, Reuters and other outlets.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
2 May 2026
Adverb
-
As a result, the mid-nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic increase in the creation of posts, including among tribes that had not typically made them before.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
What’s happening at home or internally becomes clearer than before.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Adverb
-
SpaceX has already filed confidentially with the SEC and is reportedly expected to launch its roadshow in mid-June for an IPO that could value the company in the trillions of dollars.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
-
This was the second game of the two SEC teams' series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, and in the bottom of the second inning, Alabama was already up 3-0.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 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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