Earlier
Earlier adverb - So as to precede something in order of time.
Usage example: he had arrived earlier to take care of some preliminary matters
Next
Next adverb - At the time or occasion immediately following.
Both words in one sentence
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When "Two Seconds" spots the goggles next to the young recruit she had shot earlier, her Cold Sniper persona is seen shaken for the first time.
Source: Film / The Front Line -
Then much later they actually arrive long enough to apologise for not introducing themselves earlier, complement the blueness of our sky and promise to bring pizza next time.
Source: Webcomic / Meaty Yogurt - Earlier editions had this as a standard, however: firing into melee and missing the original target would instead hit someone next to them.
Source: Stray Shots Strike Nothing
Cite this Source
Next and Earlier. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/next
Earlier & Next. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/next>.
Next or Earlier. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/next.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "earlier" and "next" have occurred on timeline