• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɝliɚ/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɜː.lɪə/
• Hyphenation: ear‧li‧er

earlier

1. comparative form of early: more early
2. occurring previously

   I shall be late because I missed the earlier train.

   I'd seen earlier (in the day).

   • 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America‎^[1], archived from the original on 7 February 2019:

     Machine learning uses computer algorithms to teach machines to make independent decisions by learning from earlier or existing behavior.

earlier

1. comparative form of early: more early
2. previously; before now; sooner

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

   They were looking for some measuring equipment they had placed in the ice earlier.

• learier