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
Adjective
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After a night that featured 38 foul calls and a gritty Connecticut team determined to make a statement in Atlanta, the Dream clinched a 91-74 win over the Sun in a back-and-forth matchup that started rough but ended on a high note in their first Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Micahya Costen,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026 -
Haaland could make history as the first female Native American governor if she’s elected.—
Erin Cox,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Before releasing his initial budget in April, the mayor urged the council not to make significant cuts to homelessness, contending that could reverse notable progress the city has made on the issue.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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However, if a company lacks substance and constantly requires cash, the euphoria can be short-lived, particularly after the lockup expires and initial investors begin to exit.—
David Capablanca,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The original series took off in popularity during season 5 in 2019, turning cast members such as Higgins, Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury into household names.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
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In which a writer (Oscar Isaac) helps a mob boss steal the original handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Silverman, who leads one of the world’s foremost corporate investigations and risk advisory firms, calls that a category error.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
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Karen Martin, a professor of biology at Pepperdine University and foremost expert on the creatures, will be in attendance, as will retired State Parks ranger Jim Serpa, who ran the program for three decades and helped resurrect it a few years ago.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earliest. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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