This is the 78th most frequent Ukrainian word.
раніше
"Earlier" or "previously."
In this sentence, 'раніше' means 'previously' or 'in the past', indicating an action that happened before now.
Я раніше жив у Києві.
I used to live in Kyiv.
Here, 'раніше' is used to mean 'sooner' or 'earlier in time', emphasizing the benefits of taking an action before another event.
Раніше почнемо готуватися до іспиту, краще складемо його.
The sooner we start preparing for the exam, the better we'll perform.
In this context, 'раніше' serves to compare timing, meaning 'earlier' relative to others' actions.