earlier

UK: /ˈɜː^rliə^r/

From early (adv):

earlier

adv comparative

earliest

adv superlative

From early (adj):

earlier

adj comparative

earliest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ear•ly /ˈɜrli/   adv. andadj., -li•er, -li•est. 
adv. 

1. in or during the beginning:
   early in the year.
2. in the early part of the morning:
   to get up early.
3. before the usual or appointed time;
   ahead of time:
   The train arrived early!

adj. 

4. occurring in the beginning:
   [before a noun] an early hour of the day.
5. occurring before the usual or appointed time:
   an early dinner.
6. occurring in the near future:
   [before a noun] I look forward to an early reply.

Idioms

7. Idioms early on, not long after the beginning.

ear•li•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ear•ly  (ûr′lē), adv., -li•er, -li•est, adj., -li•er, -li•est, n., pl. -lies. 
adv. 

1. in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.:
   early in the year.
2. in the early part of the morning:
   to get up early.
3. before the usual or appointed time;
   ahead of time:
   They came early and found their hosts still dressing.
4. far back in time:
   The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.
5. Idioms early on, with but little time elapsed;
   early in the course of a process, project, etc.;
   early in the game.

adj. 

6. occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.:
   an early hour of the day.
7. occurring before the usual or appointed time:
   an early dinner.
8. belonging to a period far back in time:
   early French architecture.
9. occurring in the near future:
   I look forward to an early reply.
10. (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type:
    early apples.

n. 

11. a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.

• Middle English erlich (adjective, adjectival), erliche (adverb, adverbial), Old English ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, mutated variant of ārlīc, ārlīce, equivalent. to ār- early (positive of ǣr ere) + līc(e) -ly bef. 950

ear′li•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. initial.
• 7. beforehand, premature.

Ear•ly  (ûr′lē), n. 

Ju•bal Anderson  (jo̅o̅′bəl), 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

early / ˈɜːlɪ/ adjective ( -lier, -liest)

1. before the expected or usual time
2. occurring in or characteristic of the first part of a period or sequence
3. occurring in or characteristic of a period far back in time
4. occurring in the near future
5. early days ⇒ too soon to tell how things will turn out
6. early doors ⇒ at an early stage

adverb (-lier, -liest)

1. before the expected or usual time

Etymology: Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr ere + -līce -ly²; related to Old Norse arliga

ˈearliness noun