- comparative of early.
earlier
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Advance estimates showed the economy grew 5.8% from a year earlier, led by the services sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The new findings build on Hu's earlier work involving the experimental discovery of boron arsenide in 2018.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon joined Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona respectively earlier in the window, while Alexander Isak went to Liverpool last summer.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
But in earlier decades Minnesota was an American success story with world-class companies, high civic trust, a remarkable education tradition and a broad middle class.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
When he was satisfied that the house was completely silent, he climbed out of bed, slipped into his clothes, and picked up the bag he had packed earlier.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
