earlier on
At first mention
Earlier on means at a previous point in time, typically within a narrative or sequence of events.
It's more common in British than American English and adds mild emphasis to "earlier": Earlier on, we discussed the budget.
The phrase often signals a callback to something already mentioned: As I said earlier on.
Before the present moment
- beforePrior in time
- formerlyIn the past
- initiallyAt the outset
- originallyFrom the start
sooner · prior · beforehand · antecedently · preliminarily · at first · in the beginning · back then
Coming before in order
- previousOccurring before another
- foregoingPreviously mentioned or stated
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- priorExisting before another
preliminary · introductory · opening · first · initial · lead-up · precursor · preamble
Recalling past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- recallMemory retrieval act
- looking backRecalling what happened before
remembering · reflecting · bygone · yesteryear · childhood · way back · nostalgia
previously
Before the present moment
originally · sooner · prior · beforehand · antecedently · preliminarily · at first · in the beginning · back then · once
preceding
Coming before in order
- previousOccurring before another
- foregoingPreviously mentioned or stated
- antecedentSomething that precedes
prior · preliminary · introductory · opening · first · initial · lead-up · precursor · preamble · preface
reminiscence
Recalling past experiences
- recollectionRecalled mental image
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- recallMemory retrieval act
looking back · remembering · reflecting · bygone · yesteryear · childhood · way back · nostalgia
earlier onlater on
At a subsequent time
afterwards · later · subsequently · in due course · eventually