Earlier and Preceding

Earlier

Earlier adjective - (comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early.

Preceding is a synonym for earlier in property topic. In some cases you can use "Preceding" instead the word "Earlier" as an adjective or an adverb, when it comes to topics like position, time, advancing, former. popular alternative

Preceding

Preceding adjective - Going before another in time or order.

Earlier is a synonym for preceding in property topic. You can use "Earlier" instead the word "Preceding" as an adjective or an adverb, if it concerns topics such as position, time, advancing, past. popular alternative

Both words in one sentence

  • Music / A Moon Shaped Pool This time around they've emphasised orchestral elements that very seldom came to the forefront of their preceding material (though some earlier songs, such as "Dollars & Cents", had string arrangements).
  • There is absolutely no suggestion at any earlier time that Elizabeth might have magical powers, nor are magical powers any part of the preceding nine and a half hours of the science fiction miniseries.
  • Mana and Ku Fei doing the same for Asuna and Setsuna, and Kaede preceding hers with a giant shuriken, all earlier in the same arc.
Cite this Source
Preceding and Earlier. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/preceding
Earlier & Preceding. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/preceding>.
Preceding or Earlier. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/earlier/preceding.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "earlier" and "preceding" have occurred on timeline