It was in use by 1941, and may have first been used earlier.

I may have used poor judgment early on in my relationship with this issue.

Those were close to the same words he'd used earlier, when she was lying on his desk.

This term was used earlier in California and other locations.

Medications are more effective if used earlier in an attack.

She looked to her right and realized the sound was coming from the small cellular phone she'd been using earlier.

I gave him the overly deep bow he had used earlier.

He has also acknowledged having used cocaine earlier in his career.

Then again, this official had used the exact same time frame a day earlier.

Another pause, and the woman turned to speak to her companions in that same language they had used earlier.