earlier Meaning, Definition & Usage
-
adjective satellite (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early
earliest.
- a fashion popular in earlier times
- his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher
- Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera
-
adjective at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
early.
- early morning
- an early warning
- early diagnosis
- an early death
- took early retirement
- an early spring
- early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties
-
adjective being or occurring at an early stage of development
early.
- in an early stage
- early forms of life
- early man
- an early computer
-
adjective satellite belonging to the distant past
early; other; former.
- the early inhabitants of Europe
- former generations
- in other times
-
adjective satellite very young
early.
- at an early age
-
adjective of an early stage in the development of a language or literature
early.
- the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C.
- Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700
-
adjective satellite expected in the near future
early.
- look for an early end to the negotiations
-
adverb earlier in time; previously
before.
- I had known her before
- as I said before
- he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier
- her parents had died four years earlier
- I mentioned that problem earlier
-
adverb comparatives of `soon' or `early'
sooner.
- Come a little sooner, if you can
- came earlier than I expected
-
adverb before now
in the first place; in the beginning; originally; to begin with.
- why didn't you tell me in the first place?
