English · Adjectives
earlier
/ˈɜːrliər/
[/ˈɜːrliər/]
comparative of early
Beginneradjective
Definition
Comparative form of 'early'. Used to compare two things, saying one is more early than the other.
Example
I woke up earlier than you.
I woke up earlier than you.
Etymology
From 'early' plus the comparative suffix '-er'. The final 'y' changes to 'i' before the suffix.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in comparisons, often followed by 'than'.