Earlier

Synonyms of earlier

• previously
• beforehand
• former

Antonyms of earlier

• subsequent
• later
• afterward

Collocations of earlier

earlier today

Frequency: 80 %

I saw him earlier today at the grocery store.

earlier this week

Frequency: 70 %

We had a meeting earlier this week to discuss the project.

earlier version

Frequency: 60 %

I prefer the earlier version of the software because it was more user-friendly.

earlier than expected

Frequency: 50 %

The package arrived earlier than expected, which was a pleasant surprise.

earlier than usual

Frequency: 45 %

She woke up earlier than usual to catch the early train.

Idiomatic Expressions for earlier

• Phrase: the early bird catches the worm
  Meaning: suggests that those who act early or arrive first will have an advantage over others
  Usage: I always try to get to work early because the early bird catches the worm.