adjective
(comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early
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a fashion popular in earlier times
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his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher
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Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera
• Syn: ↑earliest
• Similar to: ↑early
• Usage Domain: ↑comparative, ↑comparative degree
adverb
1. earlier in time; previously (Freq. 18)
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I had known her before
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as I said before
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he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier
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her parents had died four years earlier
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I mentioned that problem earlier
• Syn: ↑before
2. comparatives of `soon' or `early' (Freq. 7)
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Come a little sooner, if you can
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came earlier than I expected
• Syn: ↑sooner
3. before now (Freq. 1)
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why didn't you tell me in the first place?
• Syn: ↑in the first place, ↑in the beginning, ↑to begin with, ↑originally
Useful english dictionary. 2012.