Sooner vs. Earlier — What's the Difference?

A person who settled homestead land in the western United States before it was officially made available, in order to have first choice of location.

Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events

Sooner A native or resident of Oklahoma.

Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time

Rather.

Of or belonging to an initial stage of development

In the western United States, one who settles on government land before it is legally open to settlement in order to gain the prior claim that the law gives to the first settler when the land is opened to settlement; hence, any one who does a thing prematurely or anticipates another in acting in order to gain an unfair advantage.

Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time

Comparatives of `soon' or `early';

Maturing or developing relatively soon

More readily or willingly;

Occurring in the near future

Near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events

At or near the beginning of the morning

At or during a remote or initial period

Before the expected or usual time

Soon in relation to others of its kind

Occurring previously

Previously; before now; sooner

Occurring at a prior time; as, on earlier occasions.

(comparative and superlative of `early') more early than; most early;

Earlier in time; previously;

Comparatives of `soon' or `early';

Before now;