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Earlier: meaning, definitions and examples

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earlier

 

[ ˈɪr·li·ər ]

Adverb / Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adverb

in time

Happening or done before the usual or expected time.

Synonyms

beforehand, previously, prior

Examples of usage

  • I saw him earlier today.
  • She had met him earlier in the day.
Context #2 | Adjective

comparative

Existing or occurring before in time or order.

Synonyms

former, previous, prior

Examples of usage

  • The earlier version of the software had some bugs.
  • She preferred the earlier movies in the series.
Context #3 | Noun

time

A period before the present time or event.

Synonyms

beforehand, previously, prior

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

Etymology

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.

See also: earliest, early.

Word Frequency Rank

At #744 in the frequency ranking, this word is highly important for effective communication. It's commonly used in daily situations and should be prioritized in your vocabulary building.