comparative adjective
Happening or arriving before another time or before the usual or planned time.
We chose an earlier flight.
The earlier train gets there at eight.
American English
How to pronounce earlier
adjective · adverbA2Very common word
ERleeer
/ˈɚ.li.ɚ/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of early
Earlier can be an adjective before a noun or an adverb after a verb.
Happening or arriving before another time or before the usual or planned time.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
comparative adjective
Closer to the beginning of a period, process, or development than another point.
The earlier version had fewer features.
We studied the earlier stages of the project.
comparative adverb
Before another time or before the usual or planned time.
She arrived earlier than I did.
Please leave earlier tomorrow.
comparative adverb
Closer to the beginning of a period, event, or process than another point.
Earlier in the discussion, Maya raised this concern.
The team identified the risk earlier in the process.
Useful expressions
At an early stage or near the beginning.
We found the problem early on.
A person who gets up early or likes to do things early.
I'm an early bird, so I start work at six.
Related words & forms
The y changes to i before -er and -est: earlier, earliest.