earlier, earliest(adverb)

(comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early

"a fashion popular in earlier times"; "his earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher"; "Verdi's earliest and most raucous opera"

earlier, before(adverb)

earlier in time; previously

"I had known her before"; "as I said before"; "he called me the day before but your call had come even earlier"; "her parents had died four years earlier"; "I mentioned that problem earlier"

sooner, earlier(adverb)

comparatives of `soon' or `early'

"Come a little sooner, if you can"; "came earlier than I expected"

in the first place, earlier, in the beginning, to begin with, originally(adverb)

before now

"why didn't you tell me in the first place?"

earlier(Adverb)

previously; before now; sooner

I shall be late because I didn't start earlier.

earlier(Adjective)

occurring previously

I shall be late because I missed the earlier train.