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

How to pronounce earlier?

How to say earlier in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use earlier in a sentence?

1. Abigail Spanberger:

   It’s apparent that House leadership does not have its heart in this effort, because the package released earlier this week was designed to fail, it was written to create confusion surrounding reform efforts and complicate a straightforward reform priority — banning Members of Congress from buying and selling individual stocks — all while creating the appearance that House Leadership wanted to take action.

2. Eric Schultz:

   The US did not draft this resolution nor did the US introduce this resolution, the Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution. The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote. The White House already has acknowledged Obama made the decision for U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power to abstain. Unclear was how involved the Obama administration was in crafting and pushing the resolution itself – which initially was put forward by Egypt, and then pursued as well by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela. Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that while the U.S. and Israel for decades had disagreed on settlements, they had an understanding that such action before the U.N. Security Council would make peace negotiations harder.

3. Leonid Fedun:

   Earlier, the Iraqi government said that they are ready to take out 300,000-500,000 bpd from the market. Our share will be proportional.

4. Rebecca Fitzgerald:

   Through this clinical trial we hope to find signatures in breath needed to detect cancers earlier -- it's the crucial next step in developing this technology.

5. Bill Belichick:

   Tying this in with a couple of things from last week or earlier in the week, I just think overall, it’s kind of sad, really, to see some stories written that obviously have an agenda to them with misinformation and anonymous-type comments, writing about warm drinks and trash cans and stuff like that. I think it's just a sad commentary and it’s gone to a pretty low level. Sunk pretty deep.