earliest

adjective

as in first
coming before all others in time or order the earliest computers were massive machines that practically filled up a room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earliest
  1. first
  2. initial
  3. original
  4. foremost
Adjective
  • The West Nile virus has been detected in Yuba County for the first time this year, according to a Monday news release from the Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Some of the first reports indicated that Adebayo threw a punch at Herro’s head before the two were separated, but some league sources have indicated that initial portrayals of the fight were overblown.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of first
Adjective
  • Amid its six-shot flurry in the initial 10 minutes, Belgium created one golden chance that was a near miss.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • The initial impulse is likely valid, but make sure your emotions are also in check.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of initial
Adjective
  • The foursome began a two-year, multi-million-dollar journey that preserved the building’s original craftsmanship while modernizing the design, plumbing, and electrical.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Watching repeat episodes of the original TV series from the ’70s and reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books for school, Travers developed a deep appreciation for the expansive representation of pioneer life that Wilder created on the page.
    — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Definition of original
Adjective
  • Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Krutarth Shah, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Some of the world’s foremost experts in TND and vaccine evaluation are at the CDC.
    — Ben Lopman, STAT, 2 July 2026
Definition of foremost
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

earlier
earliest
earliness
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Cite this Entry

“Earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earliest. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of earliest for Spanish Speakers

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