earlier (EN)
adjective, adverb

This word can also be a form of:
early (adjective, adverb)

adjective “earlier”

earlier, non-gradable
  1. happening before now or before a specific past event
    She regretted not taking the earlier flight, as the later one was delayed.

adverb “earlier”

earlier
  1. before now or before the specific time being talked about
    She arrived earlier than expected.