earlier meaning and definition

EARLIER adjective

Definition of earlier (adjective)

1. (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

EARLIER adverb

Definition of earlier (adverb)

1. 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: before
2. comparatives of `soon' or `early'
   • "Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected"
   • synonyms: sooner
3. before now
   • "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"
   • synonyms: in the beginning, in the first place, originally, to begin with