EARLIER Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

earlier

adverb

as in ahead

so as to precede something in order of time he had arrived earlier to take care of some preliminary matters

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for earlier

Adverb

Classic tees for effortless layering, elegant slips for summer’s heat, statement skirts for a touch of drama, and playful outerwear for the season ahead.

— Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
New Florida women’s soccer coach Nick Zimmerman wasted little time signaling better days are ahead — much sooner than anyone expected.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of ahead

Adverb

Zelenskyy said that earlier this year the Defense Ministry had told him that SpaceX had agreed to allow Ukraine to use Starlink over Russian territory to carry out deep strike operations, subject to political approval.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
In addition, a law creating new asylum eligibility requirements, including new time limits for applying, went into effect earlier this year.

— Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of early

Adverb

Tuesday's Dearborn City Council meeting was not business as usual, with anti-Islam protesters gathering before and during the meeting.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
That is, again, different from last year; Glenn knew Wilks but had never worked with him before.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of before

Adverb

But communities already are scrambling to store up road salt for the snowy season ahead.

— Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
Too early to tell, but the Viceroy name will, no doubt, bring Americans, who are already flooding into Portugal for vacation and often, to settle.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of already

Adverb

Abbott has previously said data centers should not be built in rural Texas neighborhoods and that developers must pay their own way and provide their own water and power.

— Jack Fink, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Immigrant advocates, medical professionals and lawmakers have previously raised concerns about conditions at the South Texas facility.

— Laura Romero, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of previously

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earl

earlier

earliest

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“Earlier.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earlier. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of earlier

adverb

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