Grade 4 earlier Get Printable Handwriting (ear-li-er) 3 syllables Rhymes Learn It! Spelling Test Definition before the usual or expected time; in the first part of something; near the beginning of something Example Sentence He arrived earlier than the other students. Synonyms beginning; early; previous; ahead; beforehand Antonyms late Rhymes Three Syllable Rhymes (1) earlier Share with your friends: