Synonym: before, earliest, in the beginning, in the first place, originally, sooner, to begin with. Similar words: Charlie, garlic, supplier, early, nearly, clearly, not nearly, early warning. Meaning: ['ɜːlɪə] 
adj. (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early. adv. 1. earlier in time; previously 2. comparatives of `soon' or `early' 3. before now.
adj. (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early. adv. 1. earlier in time; previously 2. comparatives of `soon' or `early' 3. before now. (61) Christmas seems to come earlier every year.
(62) She scored against him by quoting his earlier statement.
(63) Many strange customs have survived from earlier times.
(64) I ought to have come earlier. I deeply regret.
(65) What a pity that she didn't tell me earlier.
(66) He got there earlier than we did.
(67) I prefer his earlier paintings to his later ones.
(68) I want to withdraw a statement I made earlier.
(69) Earlier reports of gunshots have not been substantiated.
(70) You could have come a little earlier.
(71) A live bomb had earlier been defused.
(72) The earlier train would be my preferred option.
(73) Sorry I was a bit short with you earlier.
(74) These results conflict with earlier findings.
(75) There was a fox on the prowl earlier.
(76) The earlier verdict was overturned on a legal technicality.
(76) Sentencedict.com try its best to gather and build good sentences.
(77) I meant what I said earlier.
(78) He recalled a similar incident 14 months earlier.
(79) He returned from exile earlier this year.
(80) Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?
(81) She had seen him earlier in the day.
(82) Her earlier work shows a lot of originality .
(83) The article contains echoes of an earlier report.
(84) I prefer her earlier paintings to her later work.
(85) I phoned earlier but you were engaged .
(86) The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
(87) The dollar staged a recovery earlier today.
(88) This document marks a radical departure from earlier recommendations.
(89) I have nothing to add to my earlier statement.
(90) What a pity you didn't tell me earlier!