adj · adv · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈɝliɚ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɜː.lɪə/
CMU ARPABET:ER1 L IY0 ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
comparative form of early: more early
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: comparative, form-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
occurring previously
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I shall be late because I missed the earlier train.
I'd seen earlier (in the day).
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
comparative form of early: more early
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: comparative, form-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
previously; before now; sooner
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
From what I vaguely saw earlier this morning, when I had just woken up and was tidying my bed, a tall, bulky person left an unfamiliar box at my front door.
I shall be late because I didn't start earlier.
They were looking for some measuring equipment they had placed in the ice earlier.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
(comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a fashion popular in earlier times
his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher
Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: earliest
Antonyms: none provided
6
adverb
Meaning 6
earlier in time; previously
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
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
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: before
Antonyms: none provided
7
adverb
Meaning 7
before now
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
why didn't you tell me in the first place?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: in the first place, in the beginning, to begin with, originally
Antonyms: none provided
8
adverb
Meaning 8
comparatives of `soon' or `early'
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Come a little sooner, if you can
came earlier than I expected
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sooner
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
