How to Pronounce Earlier

To pronounce "earlier", say EARL-ier — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɜː.lɪə/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

earlier

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˈɜː.lɪə/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “earlier”

"earlier" has 2 syllables: earl-ier. It rhymes with surlier and burlier, if that helps it stick.

What does earlier mean?

adjective

  1. At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

    “at eleven, we went for an early lunch;  she began reading at an early age;  his mother suffered an early death”

  2. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.

    “The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.”

adverb

  1. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

    “We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.”

  2. Soon; in good time; seasonably.

Synonyms

firstprematureprematurely

Antonyms

lateterminaltardily

Hear “earlier” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with earlier

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

surlierburliercurlierpearlier

Related words

beforepastsooneroriginallybeforehandpreviouslyantecedent

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "earlier"?▾

"Earlier" has 2 syllables: earl · ier.

What is the IPA transcription of "earlier"?▾

The IPA transcription of "earlier" is /ˈɜː.lɪə/.

What does "earlier" mean?▾

Earlier: At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

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