Earlier Meaning and Definition
Earlier
Pronunciation
No pronunciation available
Part of Speech
No part of speech defined
Definition
A stage or point in time that occurs before a later time or event; an earlier time period.
Examples
- The company was founded earlier this year.
- The project was completed earlier than expected.
Synonyms
- Before
- Prior
- Earlier
Antonyms
- Later
- Late
- Recently
Etymology
The word “Earlier” is derived from Middle English “ere” meaning “before”, and the suffix “-er” forming an adjective indicating a relationship of time.
Usage Notes
Use “Earlier” to indicate a point in time that occurs before a later time or event. Note that “Earlier” can also be used to indicate a time period that occurs before a given time or event.
Cultural References
The phrase “Earlier that day” was featured in the popular TV show “The Wire”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Expressions such as “No sooner had I gotten there than…” and “Earlier today…” are common idioms that use the word “Earlier”.
Related Words or Phrases
Words and phrases closely related to “Earlier” include “Before”, “Prior”, “Beforehand”, “Antecedent”, and “Preceding”.
Collocations
Common word combinations with the term “Earlier” include “earlier today”, “earlier this year”, and “earlier than expected”.
Frequency of Use
“Earlier” is a commonly used word in modern language, especially in contexts involving time and scheduling.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of the word “Earlier” include “Ealier”, “Earleir”, and “Eariler”.