6
anterior(adjective, time, precede, before)
6
in the past(verb, expression, idiom, adverb, phrasal verb)
5
ahead(adjective, adverb, advance, back, advanced)
5
aforetime(adverb, back, then, precede, before)
5
before now(expression, idiom, adverb, early, now)
5
old(adjective, adverb, late, past, previous)
5
whilom
5
yet(adverb, precede, priority)
4
afore
4
ago
4
ancient(adjective, late, old, past, previous)
4
earliest
4
elder(adjective, lower, first)
4
first(adjective, adverb, old, past, advanced)
4
late(adjective, adverb, old, past, previous)
4
lower(senior, oldest)
4
older(adjective, senior, oldest)
4
quondam(adjective, late, old, past, previous)
4
theretofore(adverb, priority)
3
Sooner
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APASmart Define. (2015). earlier thesaurus. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/earlier/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "earlier thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/earlier/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 23, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, earlier thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/earlier/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "earlier thesaurus" 13 April 2015. Web. 23 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/earlier/thesaurus/synonyms>