Earlier: meaning, definitions and examples
⏰
earlier
[ ˈɪr·li·ər ]
in time
Happening or done before the usual or expected time.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I saw him earlier today.
- She had met him earlier in the day.
comparative
Existing or occurring before in time or order.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The earlier version of the software had some bugs.
- She preferred the earlier movies in the series.
time
A period before the present time or event.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The earlier of the two events happened last week.
- The earlier you start, the better the result.
Translations
Translations of the word "earlier" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mais cedo
🇮🇳 पहले
🇩🇪 früher
🇮🇩 lebih awal
🇺🇦 раніше
🇵🇱 wcześniej
🇯🇵 早く
🇫🇷 plus tôt
🇪🇸 más temprano
🇹🇷 daha erken
🇰🇷 더 일찍
🇸🇦 في وقت سابق
🇨🇿 dříve
🇸🇰 skôr
🇨🇳 更早
🇸🇮 prej
🇮🇸 fyrr
🇰🇿 бұрын
🇬🇪 ადრე
🇦🇿 əvvəl
🇲🇽 más temprano
Word origin
The word 'earlier' has its roots in the Middle English word 'erli,' which comes from the Old English word 'ǣrlīce.' This word is a combination of 'ǣr' (before) and 'līċ' (like). Over time, the word evolved to its current form, 'earlier,' in Modern English. The concept of time and order has always been essential in human communication, and the word 'earlier' serves to express that notion effectively.