Definition: 1. (comparative and superlative of 'early') more early than; most early. 2. Earlier in time; previously. 3. Comparatives of 'soon' or `early'. 4. Before now.
Use 'earlier' in a sentence:
1. The earlier the treatment is given, the better the patient's chances.
2. Earlier reports of gunshots have not been substantiated.
3. The baby arrived earlier than expected.
4. I'd like to take up the point you raised earlier.
5. He reopened ties with Moscow earlier this year.
6. I lost my job earlier this year.
7. They share with earlier individualists a fear of collectivism.
8. What a pity that she didn't tell me earlier.
9. These results conflict with earlier findings.
10. As I mentioned earlier.
11. She had seen him earlier in the day.
12. The dollar staged a recovery earlier today.
13. Providentially, he had earlier made friends with a Russian Colonel.
14. He returned from exile earlier this year.
15. He'd snared a rabbit earlier in the day.
16. There is a growing trend towards earlier retirement.
17. Girls become sexually mature earlier than boys.
18. If we leave now, I can catch the earlier flight.
19. I have nothing to add to my earlier statement.
20. The text varies from the earlier versions.
21. The latest results are in keeping with our earlier findings.
22. Earlier reports suggested that a meeting would take place on Sunday.
23. Traffic is now moving more freely following an earlier accident.
24. This study builds on earlier work.
25. They issued a statement correcting the one they had made earlier.
26. The Senator made an embarrassing retreat from his earlier position.
27. The idea already existed in embryo in his earlier novels.
28. New species are merely mutants of earlier ones.
29. She had earlier resigned her post as President Menem's assistant.
30. Girls generally reach sexual maturity two years earlier than boys.
31. The results are entirely consistent with our earlier research.