at the earliest
idiom
—used to indicate the earliest possible time when something will happen or be done
The job will not be finished until next year at the (very) earliest.
Examples of at the earliest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Knicks won’t make a trade of significance until the summer — at the earliest
My gut has told me, and continues to tell me, that New York will use this entire season as an evaluation period.
—
James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Smith pledged earlier in the day that at least the volume on the documents investigation would not be made public by the Justice Department before 10 a.m. on Friday at the earliest, though the decision on what to make public ultimately rests with Atty.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
That means closing arguments in the case will likely not occur until next week at the earliest.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
Closures would occur in the 2026-27 school year at the earliest.
—Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
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James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Smith pledged earlier in the day that at least the volume on the documents investigation would not be made public by the Justice Department before 10 a.m. on Friday at the earliest, though the decision on what to make public ultimately rests with Atty.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
That means closing arguments in the case will likely not occur until next week at the earliest.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
Closures would occur in the 2026-27 school year at the earliest.
—Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for at the earliest
Dictionary Entries Near at the earliest
Cite this Entry
“At the earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20earliest. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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