нареч.
1. ( сравн. ст. от рано II) earlier
как можно раньше — as early as possible; ( скорее ) as soon as possible
2. ( до какого-то момента ) before, until
я не вернусь раньше вечера — I shall not be back before evening
3. ( прежде другого ) before
раньше нас — before us
4. ( прежде ) before, formerly; previously, in the past
раньше здесь помещалась школа — there was a school here formerly; this used to be a school
5. ( сперва ) first, firstly