early
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.
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.
a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.
Idioms about early
early on, with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.
Origin of early
1Other words for early
Other words from early
- ear·li·ness, noun
Other definitions for Early (2 of 2)
Ju·bal Anderson [joo-buhl], /ˈdʒu bəl/, 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use early in a sentence
She adds that some of the earliest voting booths were stationed inside drinking establishments.
Hitchcock saw the work of, and probably met, Murnau, the great German filmmaker--the earliest master of bleak light and shadow.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIndeed the earliest vaccinations against small pox were done 1,000 years ago in China.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World | Kent Sepkowitz | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOne of her earliest memories of life in the Bronx is visiting the library with her mother and sister.
One of the earliest ticker-tape parades was for Teddy Roosevelt when he returned from an African safari in 1910.
It’s Time for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to Get a Parade of Their Own | Michael Daly | November 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“The sepoys have come in from Meerut,” he announced with the slow tick of the earliest form of apparatus.
The Red Year | Louis TracyOddly enough this assumption—the most warrantable of the lot—was the earliest to fall under disrepute.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockYung Pak's earliest days were spent very much as are those of most babies, whether they live in Korea or America.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeMy earliest recollection in connection with railways is my first railway journey, which took place when I was four years of age.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowMonsieur Farival thought that Victor should have been taken out in mid-ocean in his earliest youth and drowned.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
British Dictionary definitions for early
/ (ˈɜːlɪ) /
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
before the expected or usual time
near the first part of a period or sequence: I was talking to him earlier
Origin of early
1Derived forms of early
- earliness, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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