earlier

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earlier
Adverb
  • The Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund is starting to spend early against Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., with new broadcast and digital ads that were shared first with Semafor.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Two years earlier, two grandchildren of George Halas sold their shares in the team back to the family; and the team used proceeds from the sale to Ryan and McKenna to help pay down debt burdens.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • The decision to add to the more than 1,400 troops already on wildfire duty came as authorities struggled to contain forest blazes.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Prior to the summit, analysts were already casting doubt on the talks advancing any real ceasefire in Ukraine.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Earlier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earlier. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on earlier

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!