Synonyms for earlier
ear·li·er

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earlier

   Antecedent may denote simple priority in time, implying no direct connection between that which goes before and that which follows; as, the striking of one clock may be always antecedent to the striking of another with no causal connection between them. Antecedent and previous may refer to that which goes or happens at any distance in advance, preceding is limited to that which is immediately or next before; an antecedent event may have happened at any time before; the preceding transaction is the one completed just before the one with which it is compared; a previous statement or chapter may be in any part of the book that has gone before; the preceding statement or chapter comes next before without an interval. Previous often signifies first by right; as, a previous engagement. Foregoing is used only of that which is spoken or written; as, the foregoing statements. Anterior, while it can be used of time, is coming to be employed chiefly with reference to place; as the anterior lobes of the brain. Prior bears exclusive reference to time, and commonly where that which is first in time is first also in right; as, a prior demand. Former is used of time, or of position in written or printed matter, not of space in general. We can say former times, a former chapter, etc., but not the former part of a garden; we should say the front part of the garden, the forward car of a train. Former has a close relation, or sharp contrast, with something following; the former always implies the latter, even when not fully expressed, as in Acts i, 1, and Eccles. vii, 10.

   Synonyms:
   antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, forward, front, introductory, precedent, preceding, preliminary, previous, prior

   Antonyms:
   after, concluding, consequent, following, hind, hinder, hindmost, later, latter, posterior, subsequent, succeeding

   Preposition:
   Such was the state of things previous to the revolution. [Previous to is often used adverbially, in constructions where previously to would be more strictly correct; as, these arrangements were made previous to my departure.]

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. earlier, earliestadverb

   (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early

   "a fashion popular in earlier times"; "his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher"; "Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera"

   Synonyms:
   earliest

   Antonyms:
   late, middle

2. earlier, beforeadverb

   earlier in time; previously

   "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"

   Synonyms:
   in the beginning, originally, ahead, to begin with, sooner, in front, in the first place, before

   Antonyms:
   middle, late

3. sooner, earlieradverb

   comparatives of `soon' or `early'

   "Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected"

   Synonyms:
   sooner, rather, in the beginning, originally, before, to begin with, preferably, in the first place

   Antonyms:
   middle, late

4. in the first place, earlier, in the beginning, to begin with, originallyadverb

   before now

   "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"

   Synonyms:
   in the beginning, primitively, in the first place, originally, before, sooner, to begin with, primarily

   Antonyms:
   late, middle

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earlieradjective

   Synonyms:
   antecedent

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "earlier":

   previous, previously, sooner, early, before, prior, former, above, formerly, preceding, anterior, past, soon, ago, already, earller, lately, beforehand

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How to use earlier in a sentence?

1. Andrea Shaw:

   Had I been 5 minutes later or 5 minutes earlier they might now have crossed paths.

2. Bob Ward:

   I hope we can get to net zero earlier and I hope Extinction Rebellion will continue to push for The UK, but we've got to do this whilst improving the quality of people's lives, we have more than 20 million homes in The UK that have gas central heating... if Bob Ward were to stop The UK now, rip up their gas central heating without knowing what Bob Ward are going to replace The UK with, Bob Ward will kill people. Because there will be people who will freeze to death.

3. Anthony DeSclafani:

   I’m just going to note, I had a bird poop on me earlier this week and I was like, ‘You know what? It's got to be good luck,’ and I think it showed tonight, so I was happy.

4. Secret Service:

   Media reports indicating that the Secret Service Tampa Field Office was alerted earlier today by a citizen to the subject’s intentions are false.

5. Billy Kreutzmann -LRB- drums -RRB-:

   Most of these kids are too young to have seen the Dead in our earlier incarnation, it's a chance for us, you know, to dedicate ourselves to transporting them.