early
[ur-lee]
- in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.
- in the early part of the morning: to get up early.
- before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing.
- far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.
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- occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: an early hour of the day.
- occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner.
- belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.
- occurring in the near future: I look forward to an early reply.
- (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type: early apples.
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- a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.
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- early on, with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.
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Origin of early
Synonyms
See more synonyms for early on Thesaurus.com5. initial. 6. beforehand, premature.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for earlier
Contemporary Examples
Earlier this week, Huckabee ended his Fox News talk show so he could spend time mulling another bid for the Republican nomination.
In 2007, Huckabee said he stood by these earlier remarks, but would phrase them differently.
The pilot had earlier called air-traffic control reporting heavy clouds and asked to move up to 38,000 feet from 32,000 feet.
Correction: Officer Jose Rodriguez was misidentified in several places in an earlier version of this story.
Earlier, when the mayor spoke, some of the cops had turned their back on the Jumbotron that carried the service to the street.
Historical Examples
"Paracelsus," so denominated, was one of Robert Browning's earlier poems.
'Tis Sixty Years SinceCharles Francis Adams
Earlier in the evening there had been a Big Eating at Opata's, and now the men were dancing.
The Trail BookMary Austin
"You ought to have spoken of it earlier in the day," he went on slowly.
Rico and WiseliJohanna Spyri
He thought of what Mrs. Bothwell had said earlier in the day.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
Hinde had parted from them earlier that evening than he had intended or they had expected.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
early
- before the expected or usual time
- occurring in or characteristic of the first part of a period or sequence
- occurring in or characteristic of a period far back in time
- occurring in the near future
- at the earliest not before the time or date mentioned
- early days too soon to tell how things will turn out
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- before the expected or usual time
- near the first part of a period or sequenceI was talking to him earlier
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Word Origin
Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr ere + -līce -ly ²; related to Old Norse arliga
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for earlier
early
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with earlier
early
In addition to the idioms beginning with early
- early bird catches the worm
- early on
- early to bed, early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise)
also see:
- bright and early
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.