EARLIER as ADJECTIVE

1. Meaning
   • (comparative and superlative of `early”) more early than
   • most early
   Synonym(s)
   • earliest (what does earliest mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • a fashion popular in earlier times
   • his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher
   • Verdi’’s earliest and most raucous opera
   Similar To
   • early (what does early mean?)

EARLIER as ADVERB

1. Meaning
   • earlier in time
   • previously
   Synonym(s)
   • before (what does before mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • 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
2. Meaning
   • before now
   Synonym(s)
   • in the beginning (what does in the beginning mean?)
   • in the first place (what does in the first place mean?)
   • originally (what does originally mean?)
   • to begin with (what does to begin with mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • why didn”t you tell me in the first place?
3. Meaning
   • comparatives of `soon” or `early”
   Synonym(s)
   • sooner (what does sooner mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • Come a little sooner, if you can
   • came earlier than I expected