at the earliest

phrase

—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

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And the offense, of course, misses Judge, who likely won’t be back until August, at the earliest. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 July 2026 If the tests are reinstated, the policy would not take effect until the fall 2028 application period at the earliest. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 In materials released to attendees, the Division of Marine Fisheries stated the shellfish harvesting areas could be opened on July 9 at the earliest. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026

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“At the earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20earliest. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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at the earliest

phrase

Examples of at the earliest in a Sentence

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