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
-
But the fairy godmother’s spell wore off early in Game 6, which was just 62 seconds old when Vegas went ahead to stay.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026 -
So what stands out most about the Chiefs’ road ahead?—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Fugaz moved to this location early last year—the former spot was, though somewhat unbelievable, even smaller.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Musk's reusable rocket company is expected to start a roadshow aimed at marketing the deal to investors early next month, according to people familiar with the matter.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
The day before, the forest service responded to eight wildfire requests covering roughly 24,700 acres on Thursday.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Fourteen players on its roster had never been to the postseason before; most of them had never even played for a winning team in the NHL before.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
According to the source, Foxx (who is already a dad of two) was working on getting his career back in order after his medical issues, leading to his brief breakup from Huckstepp.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Farmers like Maung Nu Sein were already grappling with low rice prices as well as soaring fuel and food costs due to the civil war and the military’s blockade of their coastal state.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
16 May 2026
Adverb
-
The Fan Favorite is awarded $100,000 by Sia, who has previously personally awarded the players she's loved the most.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
-
Hundreds of miles downriver from the Big Bend, in the Rio Grande Valley, wall construction has been proceeding at a rapid pace, threatening areas—a historic chapel, a wildlife refuge, a state park, the National Butterfly Center—that had previously been protected by Congress.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Earlier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earlier. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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