as in first
coming before all others in time or order
the earliest computers were massive machines that practically filled up a room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earliest
Adjective
-
This isn't the first time Chopra — who shares 3-year-old daughter Malti with Jonas — has seen her husband in The Last Five Years.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025 -
The actor got choked up, nearly crying, within the first two minutes of a cast panel on Sunday night following the episode.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
His remarks came as markets began to stabilize following initial uncertainty about the administration's trade tactics.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Clark made the initial comments in her interview in December with Time Magazine and refreshed those remarks in her interview with comedian David Letterman.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Wherever the original source of the incorrect headline came from, it was amplified by trusted sources in financial news, creating a very expensive lesson in the value of accurate and reliable reporting.—
Hadas Gold and Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The Switch 2 will hit store shelves on June 5 for $449.99, up from $300 for the original Switch.—
Teddy Farkas,Steve Kovach,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Through them, the Chinese firm has persuaded the president to defend a tool wielded by America’s foremost foreign adversary.—
The Editors,
National Review,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Donovan is one of the world’s foremost experts on Steve, a light spectacle that has only recently been studied and is occasionally visible in northern latitudes during an aurora.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earliest. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share